Autonomous Integrated Farming System

ABSTRACT

A farming system includes a field engagement unit. The field engagement unit includes a support assembly. The support assembly includes one or more work tool rail assemblies. The field engagement unit additionally includes one or more propulsion units which provide omnidirectional control of the field engagement unit. The field engagement unit additionally includes one or more work tool assemblies. The one or more work tool assemblies are actuatable along the one or more work tool rail assemblies. The farming system additionally includes a local controller. The local controller includes one or more processors configured to execute a set of program instructions stored in memory. The program instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to control one or more components of the field engagement unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to and claims benefit of the earliestavailable effective filing date from the following applications. Thepresent application constitutes a continuation patent application ofU.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/384,132, filed Dec.19, 2016, entitled AUTONOMOUS INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM, naming Steve R.Tippery, Brant Burkey, Kyle Gerber, Heath Roehr, and Tim Adkins asinventors, which claims priority to the following provisional patentapplications: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/269,770,filed Dec. 18, 2015, entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CLOUD-BASED CROPYIELD PREDICTION, naming Jayme Dick-Burkey, Steve R. Tippery and BrantBurkey as inventors; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/269,800, filed Dec. 18, 2015, entitled SELF-PROPELLED INTEGRATEDFARMING SYSTEM, naming Steve Tippery, Brant Burkey, and Kyle Gerber asinventors; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/319,861,filed Apr. 8, 2016, entitled SELF-PROPELLED AUTONOMOUS INTEGRATEDFARMING SYSTEM, naming Steve Tippery, Brant Burkey, and Kyle Gerber asinventors; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/335,260,filed May 12, 2016, entitled SELF-PROPELLED AUTONOMOUS INTEGRATEDFARMING SYSTEM CONTROL SYSTEM, naming Steve Tippery, Brant Burkey, HeathRoehr, Tim Adkins, and Kyle Gerber as inventors; U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/368,080, filed Jul. 28, 2016, entitledSELF-PROPELLED INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM, naming Steve Tippery, BrantBurkey, and Kyle Gerber as inventors. U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/384,132, 62/269,770, 62/269,800, 62/319,861, 62/335,260, and62/368,080 are each incorporated herein by reference in the entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to a self-propelled farmingsystem, and, in particular, to an autonomous farming system capable ofcarrying out various farming activities.

BACKGROUND

Self-propelled irrigation systems, including center-pivot andlateral-move systems, have irrigation towers wheels that are driven bydrive motors mechanically coupled to gearboxes and/or drivelines. Whilecost effective, these propulsion systems are complex, utilizing a largenumber of components that result in low reliability. The large number ofcomponents add weight to the propulsion system, and thus to theself-propelled irrigation system, which cause the irrigation system touse more energy to propel the irrigation system than necessary.Additionally, a heavy irrigation system often creates deep ruts in theground along each path traveled by the irrigation tower wheels. Whenthese ruts form on hills, the ruts form channels for water to move,facilitating erosion processes. Additionally, ruts also cause damage toagricultural equipment that drive over them during field operation.

Further, the technology in the self-propelled propulsion systems isgenerally suitable only for use in irrigation applications. For example,the self-propelled irrigation system propulsion systems are designed tomove at a speed usable only for irrigation. By way of another example,the guidance technology of the propulsion systems implements a set oflimit switches. The limit switches are designed to allow one irrigationsystem span to be propelled ahead of another span to the extent allowedby the span-specific limit switch, at which point the span-specificlimit switch is switched off until the remainder of the spans catch up.The propulsion system of a specific span may only be utilized when thelimit switch for that particular span is engaged, meaning spans arecontinually stopping and starting motion while travelling the field. Inthis fashion, significant structural fatigue may be witnessed in thespans. The frequent number of starts and stops is hard on an irrigationsystem's structure and respective drive systems. In the case of a centerpivot, the furthest irrigation tower's drive system from the centerpoint operates more of the time in an ON position than the innermostirrigation tower's drive system.

The irrigation towers are constructed as A-frames of a fixed height anda fixed angle relative to the ground. This fixed height makes itdifficult for the propulsion systems to drive the irrigation system onany ground that is not flat. For example, when the irrigation system isclimbing a hill, the fixed height results in the irrigation systemspraying a field at uneven heights, resulting in non-uniform coverage.

Additionally, the irrigation system is constructed from a reverse bowtruss assembly. The truss assembly provides support for an irrigationfluid pipe running the length of the irrigation system. The trussassembly is designed only to be coupled to one or more irrigationnozzles, making the irrigation system largely unusable for otherapplications.

As such it would be desirable to provide a system and method that curesthe shortcomings of the previous approaches as identified above.

SUMMARY

A farming system is disclosed, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. In one illustrative embodiment, afarming system includes a field engagement unit. In another illustrativeembodiment, the field engagement unit includes a support assembly. Inanother illustrative embodiment, the support assembly includes one ormore work tool rail assemblies. In another illustrative embodiment, thefield engagement unit includes one or more propulsion units. In anotherillustrative embodiment, the one or more propulsion units provideomnidirectional control of the field engagement unit. In anotherillustrative embodiment, the field engagement unit includes one or morework tool assemblies. In another illustrative embodiment, one or morework tool assemblies are actuatable along the one or more work tool railassemblies. In another illustrative embodiment, the farming systemincludes a local controller. In another illustrative embodiment, thelocal controller includes one or more processors configured to execute aset of program instructions stored in memory. In another illustrativeembodiment, the program instructions are configured to cause the one ormore processors to control one or more components of the fieldengagement unit.

In another embodiment, the farming system includes one or more materialstorage containers.

A farming system is disclosed, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. In one illustrative embodiment,the farming system includes a field engagement unit. In anotherillustrative embodiment, the field engagement unit includes a supportassembly. In another illustrative embodiment, the support assemblyincludes a support frame. In another illustrative embodiment, thesupport assembly includes one or more work tool rail assemblies. Inanother illustrative embodiment, the support assembly includes one ormore support structures. In another illustrative embodiment, the one ormore support structures are actuatable. In another illustrativeembodiment, the field engagement unit includes one or more propulsionunits coupled to the one or more support structures of the supportassembly via one or more steering assemblies. In another illustrativeembodiment, the one or more propulsion units provide omnidirectionalcontrol of the field engagement unit. In another illustrative embodimentthe field engagement unit includes one or more work tool assemblies. Inanother illustrative embodiment, the one or more work tool assembliesare actuatable along the one or more work tool rail assemblies. Inanother illustrative embodiment, the field engagement unit includes oneor more material storage containers. In another illustrative embodiment,the farming system includes a local controller. In another illustrativeembodiment, the local controller includes one or more processorsconfigured to execute a set of program instructions stored in memory. Inanother illustrative embodiment, the program instructions are configuredto cause the one or more processors to control one or more components ofthe field engagement unit.

A farming system is disclosed, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. In one illustrative embodiment,the farming system includes a plurality of field engagement units. Inanother illustrative embodiment, the plurality of field engagement unitsincludes a support assembly. In another illustrative embodiment, thesupport assembly includes one or more work tool rail assemblies. Inanother illustrative embodiment, the support assembly includes one ormore propulsion units. In another illustrative embodiment, the supportassembly includes one or more work tool assemblies. In anotherillustrative embodiment, the one or more work tools are actuatable alongthe one or more work tool rail assemblies. In another illustrativeembodiment, the plurality of field engagement units includes one or morematerial storage containers. In another illustrative embodiment, theplurality of field engagement units includes a local controller. Inanother illustrative embodiment, the local controller includes one ormore local processors configured to execute a set of programinstructions stored in local memory. In another illustrative embodiment,the program instructions are configured to cause the one or more localprocessors to control one or more components of the plurality of fieldengagement units. In another illustrative embodiment, the farming systemincludes a central controller. In another illustrative embodiment, thecentral controller includes one or more processors configured to executea set of program instructions stored in memory. In another illustrativeembodiment, the central controller is communicatively coupled to each ofthe local controllers of the plurality of field engagement units. Inanother illustrative embodiment, the program instructions are configuredto cause the one or more processors to coordinate one or more actions oftwo or more of the plurality of field engagement units.

An agricultural processing system is disclosed, in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the present disclosure. In one illustrativeembodiment, the agricultural processing system includes an engagementunit. In another illustrative embodiment, the engagement unit includes asupport assembly. In another illustrative embodiment, the supportassembly includes one or more work tool rail assemblies. In anotherillustrative embodiment, the support assembly includes one or morepropulsion units. In another illustrative embodiment, the one or morepropulsion units provide omnidirectional control of the engagement unit.In another illustrative embodiment, the support assembly includes one ormore work tool assemblies. In another illustrative embodiment, the oneor more work tool assemblies are actuatable along the one or more worktool rail assemblies. In another illustrative embodiment, the one ormore work tool assemblies are configured for engaging at least one of alivestock yard or a livestock enclosure. In another illustrativeembodiment, the engagement unit includes one or more material storagecontainers. In another illustrative embodiment, the agriculturalprocessing system includes a local controller. In another illustrativeembodiment, the local controller includes one or more processorsconfigured to execute a set of program instructions stored in memory. Inanother illustrative embodiment, the program instructions are configuredto cause the one or more processors to control one or more components ofthe engagement unit.

A support assembly is disclosed, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. In one illustrative embodiment,the support assembly includes one or more work tool rail assemblies. Inanother illustrative embodiment, the support assembly includes one ormore work tool assemblies. In another illustrative embodiment, the oneor more work tool assemblies are actuatable along the one or more worktool rail assemblies. In another illustrative embodiment, the one ormore work tool assemblies include a carrier. In another illustrativeembodiment, the one or more work tool assemblies include a chassis. Inanother illustrative embodiment, the one or more work tool assembliesinclude a work tool attachment.

A farming system is disclosed, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. In one illustrative embodiment,the farming system includes a field engagement unit includes a supportassembly. In one illustrative embodiment, the support assembly includesone or more work tool rail assemblies. In one illustrative embodiment,the support assembly further includes one or more support structures. Inone illustrative embodiment, the support assembly is comprised of asupport frame. In one illustrative embodiment, the support frame iscomprised of a main support frame section and one or more support framearms. In one illustrative embodiment, the field engagement unit includesone or more propulsion units. In one illustrative embodiment, the one ormore propulsion units provide omnidirectional control of the fieldengagement unit. In one illustrative embodiment, the field engagementunit includes one or more work tool assemblies. In one illustrativeembodiment, the one or more work tool assemblies are actuatable alongthe one or more work tool rail assemblies. In one illustrativeembodiment, the field engagement unit includes one or more materialstorage containers. In one illustrative embodiment, the farming systemincludes a local controller. In one illustrative embodiment, the localcontroller includes one or more processors configured to execute a setof program instructions stored in memory. In one illustrativeembodiment, the program instructions are configured to cause the one ormore processors to control one or more components of the fieldengagement unit.

A farming system is disclosed, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. In one illustrative embodiment,the farming system includes a center pivot engagement unit. In anotherillustrative embodiment, the center pivot engagement unit includes asupport assembly. In another illustrative embodiment, the supportassembly includes one or more work tool rail assemblies. In anotherillustrative embodiment, the support assembly further includes one ormore support structures. In another illustrative embodiment, the centerpivot engagement unit includes one or more propulsion units. In anotherillustrative embodiment, the center pivot engagement unit includes oneor more work tool assemblies. In another illustrative embodiment, theone or more work tool assemblies are actuatable along the one or morework tool rail assemblies. In another embodiment, the center pivotengagement unit includes one or more material storage containers. Inanother illustrative embodiment, the farming system includes a centerpivot drive system configured to drive the one or more propulsion unitsof the center pivot field engagement unit. In another illustrativeembodiment, the one or more propulsion units provide rotational controlof the center pivot field engagement unit. In another illustrativeembodiment, the farming system includes a local controller. In anotherillustrative embodiment, the local controller includes one or moreprocessors configured to execute a set of program instructions stored inmemory. In another illustrative embodiment, the program instructions areconfigured to cause the one or more processors to control one or morecomponents of the center pivot field engagement unit.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not necessarily restrictive of the present disclosure. Theaccompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a partof the characteristic, illustrate subject matter of the disclosure.Together, the descriptions and the drawings serve to explain theprinciples of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The numerous advantages of the disclosure may be better understood bythose skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures inwhich:

FIG. 1A illustrates a block diagram of a farming system, in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B illustrates a block diagram of a farming system, in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1C illustrates a block diagram of a farming system, in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1D illustrates a block diagram of a farming system, in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1E illustrates a block diagram of a farming system, in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1F illustrates a block diagram of a farming system, in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1G illustrates a process flow diagram for controlling one or morecomponents of a farming system, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1H illustrates a process flow diagram for controlling one or morecomponents of a farming system, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1I illustrates a field engagement unit of a farming system, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1J illustrates a field engagement unit of a farming system, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1K illustrates a field engagement unit of a farming system, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A illustrates a field engagement unit of a farming system, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B illustrates a support assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2C illustrates a work tool rail assembly of a field engagementunit, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2D illustrates a work tool rail assembly of a field engagement, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2E illustrates a support assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2F illustrates a support assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2G illustrates a support assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2H illustrates a work tool rail assembly of a field engagementunit, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2I illustrates a support assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2J illustrates a support assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2K illustrates a support assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3C illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3D illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3E illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3F illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3G illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3H illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3I illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3J illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A illustrates a propulsion unit of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B illustrates a propulsion unit of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4C illustrates a propulsion unit of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4D illustrates a propulsion unit of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4E illustrates a propulsion unit of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4F illustrates a propulsion unit of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4G illustrates a propulsion unit of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4H illustrates a propulsion unit of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4I illustrates a propulsion unit of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5A illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5B illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5C illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5D illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5E illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5F illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5G illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5H illustrates a field engagement unit, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5I illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6A illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6B illustrates a support assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6C illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6D illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6E illustrates a support assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6F illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6G illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7A illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7B illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7C illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7D illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8A illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8B illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8C illustrates a weeding attachment of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8D illustrates a weeding attachment of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8E illustrates a field engagement unit, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9A illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9B illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10A illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10B illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10C illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10D illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10E illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10F illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10G illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10H illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11A illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11B illustrates a process flow diagram for controlling a plantingattachment of a work tool assembly, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11C illustrates a field, in accordance with one or more embodimentsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 11D illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11E illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11F illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11G illustrates a planting attachment of a work tool assembly, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11H illustrates a planting attachment of a work tool assembly, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11I illustrates a field engagement unit, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11J illustrates of a field engagement unit, in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11K illustrates a field engagement unit, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11L illustrates a field engagement unit, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12A illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12B illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12C illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 illustrates a field engagement unit, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14A illustrates a field engagement unit, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14B illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14C illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14D illustrates a field engagement unit, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14E illustrates a support assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14F illustrates a support assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15A illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15B illustrates a support assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15C illustrates a power source work tool assembly of a fieldengagement unit, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 15D illustrates a carrier of a power source work tool assembly, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15E illustrates a work tool rail assembly of a power source worktool assembly, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 15F illustrates a support structure of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15G illustrates a parallel power grid of a field engagement unit,in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15H illustrates a work tool assembly of a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16A illustrates a hauling unit and a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16B illustrates a hauling unit and a field engagement unit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16C illustrates a field engagement unit, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16D illustrates a field engagement unit, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16E illustrates a field engagement unit, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16F illustrates a field engagement unit, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16G illustrates a field engagement unit, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16H illustrates field engagement units, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16I illustrates a block diagram for controlling one or more fieldengagement units, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 16J illustrates a block diagram for controlling one or more fieldengagement units, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 16K illustrates a field engagement unit, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17A illustrates a field engagement unit, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17B illustrates a center pivot farming system, in accordance withone or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17C illustrates a center pivot farming system, in accordance withone or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17D illustrates a center pivot farming system, in accordance withone or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18A illustrates a livestock yard, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18B illustrates a livestock enclosure, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the subject matter disclosed,which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1A through 18B, an integrated autonomousfarming system and a related method are described in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purposes of thepresent disclosure, the term “integrated autonomous farming system” maybe used interchangeably with the terms “farming system” and “fullfarming system (FFS)”

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a farming systemcapable of performing one or more agricultural functions (i.e. farmingand/or ranching functions) in an agricultural setting (e.g., crop field,livestock enclosure, etc.). Embodiments of the present disclosure arealso directed to the farming system being coupled to a center pivot orcapable of omnidirectional functionality. Embodiments of the presentdisclosure are also directed to a support assembly of the farmingsystem. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a supportframe of the support assembly. Embodiments of the present disclosure arealso directed to one or more fixed- or adjustable-height leg assembliesof the support assembly. Embodiments of the present disclosure are alsodirected to one or more wheel- or track-driven propulsion units.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are also directed to one or morework tools on one or more work tool rails coupled to the supportassembly, where the work tools perform one or more functions in a field.Embodiments of the present disclosure are also directed to one or morematerial storage containers. Embodiments of the present disclosure arealso directed to one or more transfer components to move product from atleast one of the material storage containers and irrigation liquid tothe work tools.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are also directed to one or moreprocesses for receiving and transmitting one or more sets of informationbetween the one or more components of the farming system. Embodiments ofthe present disclosure are also directed to one or more processes forsimultaneously actuating the one or more components of the farmingsystem based on one or more sets of information from one or more onboardor in-field sensors. Embodiments of the present disclosure are alsodirected to transporting the farming system.

Precision farming methods and systems, which may be incorporated intothe system 100 of the present disclosure, are described in U.S. PatentPublication No. 2016/0255778, published on Sep. 8, 2016, which isincorporated herein by reference in the entirety. Plant treatmentmethods and system, which may be incorporated into system 100 of thepresent disclosure, are described in U.S. Patent Publication No.2015/0027044, published on Jan. 29, 2015, which is incorporated hereinby reference in the entirety.

FIGS. 1A through 1F illustrate a block diagram view of an integratedautonomous farming system 100, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure.

In one embodiment, the farming system 100 includes a field engagementunit 102. The field engagement unit 102 is configured for engaging witha selected field or area of agricultural interest in one or more modes.For example, the field engagement unit 102 allows for the farming system100 to autonomously or semi-autonomously carry out one or more farmingfunctions such as, but not limited to, planting, fertilizing, weeding,applying herbicide, harvesting and the like. By way of another example,the field engagement unit 102 allows for the farming system 100 toautonomously or semi-autonomously carry out one or more ranchingfunctions such as, but not limited to, livestock and poultry management.It is noted that the field engagement unit 102 may include any numberand type of components and sub-systems to carry out the various modes ofthe field engagement unit 102, which are described in detail furtherherein.

In one embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 includes one or moresupport assemblies 104. For the purposes of the present disclosure, asingle field engagement unit 102 is generally described in the contextof a single support assembly 104 for reasons of clarity. It is noted,however, that such a configuration is not a limitation on the scope ofthe present disclosure as it is noted that the farming system 100 mayinclude any number of field engagement units 102 (e.g., one, two, three,etc.), which each may include any number of support assemblies 104(e.g., one, two, three, etc.). In another embodiment, a support assembly104 of the field engagement unit 102 includes one or more support frames106, one or more work tool rail assemblies 108 and one or more supportstructures 110.

In another embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 includes one ormore propulsion units 112. In another embodiment, the field engagementunit 102 includes one or more work tool assemblies 114. For example, asdiscussed further herein, the one or more work tool assemblies 114 arecoupled to the one or more work tool rail assemblies 108. By way ofanother example, the one or more work tool assemblies 114 include one ormore components, discussed in detail further herein. In anotherembodiment, the field engagement unit 102 includes one or more powersources/supplies 116.

In another embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 includes one ormore material storage containers 120. For example, as discussed furtherherein, the one or more material storage containers 120 may include oneor more material (e.g., liquid or solid) storage containers disposedonboard of the support assembly 104. By way of another example, asdiscussed further herein, the one or more material storage containers120 may include one or more material storage containers disposedproximate to, but offboard, the support assembly 104.

In another embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 includes a manifoldassembly 122. For example, as discussed further herein, the manifoldassembly 122 may be configured to transport material (e.g., liquid,grain, and the like) throughout the various portions of the supportassembly 104.

It is noted herein the one or more material storage containers 120 maybe detached from the field engagement unit 102. It is further notedherein the manifold assembly may include one or more portions detachedfrom the field engagement unit 102. Therefore, the above descriptionshould not be interpreted as a limitation on the present invention butmerely an illustration.

For purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “one or morecomponents of the field engagement unit 102” is interpreted to extend toat least, but is not limited to, the following: a portion of the one ormore support assemblies 104; the one or more support frames 106; the oneor more work tool rail assemblies 108; the one or more supportstructures 110; the one or more propulsion units 112; the one or morework tool assemblies 114; the one or more components of the work toolassemblies 114 including, but not limited to, a carrier, a chassis, anda work tool attachment; the one or more power sources 116; the one ormore material storage containers 120; and/or the manifold assembly 122.

In another embodiment, the farming system 100 includes one or more localcontrollers 130. The one or more local controllers 130 are configured tocontrol any of the various functions of the portions of the farmingsystem 100 located locally with respect to the one or more fields oragricultural areas of interest. For example, the one or more localcontrollers 130 may be programmed to control one or more functions ofthe field engagement unit 102. For instance, the one or more localcontrollers 130 may be programmed to transmit one or more sets ofinformation to control one or more functions of any of the one or morecomponents of the field engagement 102. The one or more localcontrollers 130 may include one or more processors 132 and memory 134.The one or more processors 132 may be configured to execute programinstructions stored in memory 134 configured for causing the one or moreprocessors 132 to execute one or more of the various steps describedthroughout the present disclosure.

In another embodiment, the farming system 100 includes (or is configuredto interact with) one or more user controllers 140. The one or more usercontrollers 140 may be configured to allow a user to remotely accessand/or control the field engagement unit 102, the manifold assembly 122and/or the material storage container 120 (or any other portion ofsystem 100) via the onboard local controller 130. The one or more usercontrollers 140 may include one or more processors 142 and memory 144.The one or more processors 144 may be configured to execute programinstructions stored in memory 144 configured for causing the one or moreprocessors 142 to execute one or more of the various steps describedthroughout the present disclosure.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1C through 1F, the one ormore work tool assemblies 114 include one or more work tool controllers160. The one or more work tool controllers 160 are configured to controlany of the one or more work tool assemblies 114. For example, the one ormore work tool controllers 160 may be programmed to control one or morefunctions of the work tool assemblies 114. In another embodiment, theone or more work tool controllers 160 may include one or more processors162 and memory 164. The one or more processors 162 may be configured toexecute program instructions stored in memory 164 configured for causingthe one or more processors 162 to execute one or more of the varioussteps described throughout the present disclosure.

The one or more processors of the local controller 130, the usercontroller 140, and/or the work tool controller 160 may include any oneor more processing elements known in the art. In general, the term“processor” may be broadly defined to encompass any device having one ormore processing elements, which execute program instructions from anon-transitory memory medium. In one embodiment, the one or moreprocessors 132 and/or 142 may include any microprocessor-typecomputational device configured to execute software algorithms and/orinstructions. The one or more processors 132 and/or 142 may be embodiedin, or consist of, a personal computer system, a mobile device (e.g.,tablet, smart phone, laptop, etc.), mainframe computer system,workstation, image computer, parallel processor, a networked computer,or any other computational device known in the art. In general, the term“computational device” may be broadly defined to encompass any devicehaving data processing or logic capabilities. It should be recognizedthat the steps described throughout the present disclosure may becarried out by a single controller or, alternatively, multiplecontrollers.

The memory 134,144, and/or 164 may include any storage medium known inthe art suitable for storing program instructions executable by theassociated one or more processors and/or for storing one or more sets ofresults, one or more sets of information, and/or one or more databasesacquired from the various components and sub-systems of system 100. Forexample, the memory may include, but is not limited to, random accessmemory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), or a persistent store, such as amass storage device, hard drives, CDROM, DVDROM, tape, erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), any magnetic,electromagnetic, solid state, infrared, optical, or electrical system,apparatus or device for storing information, or any other type of mediasuitable for storing electronic data. By way of another example, the oneor more sets of information may include, but are not limited to, one ormore operational conditions of a component (e.g. on, standby, completingassigned task, off, and the like), one or more operational parametersfor the one or more operational conditions of the component (e.g. amountof power consumption, amount of power generation, rotational speed of amotor, rotational capability of a motor, volume of stored material,position coordinates of a component location on the field engagementunit 102, position coordinates of a component location relative to othercomponents on the field engagement unit 102, position coordinates of acomponent location relative to surrounding environment locations (e.g. aweed or rock in a field) and the like), a distance measurement betweentwo or more components, one or more images from a component (e.g.,phenotyping attachment 700); or one or more images from one or moreenvironment sensors.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the one or more usercontrollers 140 may be configured to communicate with the one or morelocal controllers 130 of the system 100. For example, the usercontroller 140 and the local controller 130 may be communicativelycoupled via one or more wireline connections (e.g., direct fiber opticcable, direct copper wire, DSL-based interconnection, Cable-basedinterconnection, T9-based interconnection, and the like etc.). By way ofanother example, the user controller 140 and the local controller 130may be communicatively coupled via one or more wireless connections(e.g., GSM, GPRS, CDMA, EV-DO, EDGE, WiMAX, LTE, WiFi, RF, LoRa,Bluetooth, a customized wireless protocol and the like).

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the one or more localcontrollers 130 and the one or more user controllers 140 may beconfigured to indirectly communicate with each other via one or moreservers 136. For example, the local controller 130, the user controller140 and the one or more servers 136 may each include network interfacecircuitry (not shown) for connecting to a network (not shown). Thenetwork interface circuitry of the local controller 130, the usercontroller 140 and/or the one or more servers 136 may include anynetwork interface circuitry known in the art. For instance, the networkinterface circuitry may include wireline-based interface devices (e.g.,DSL-based interconnection, Cable-based interconnection, T9-basedinterconnection, and the like). In another instance, the networkinterface circuitry may include a wireless-based interface deviceemploying GSM, GPRS, CDMA, EV-DO, EDGE, WiMAX, LTE, WiFi protocols, RF,LoRa, and the like.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1C through 1F, the one ormore work tool controllers 160 may be configured to directly communicatewith the one or more local controllers 130. In another embodiment, theone or more work tools controllers 160, the one or more servers 136,and/or the user controller 140 (not shown) may be configured toindirectly communicate with each other via the local controller 130 vianetwork interface circuitry.

In another embodiment, the one or more servers 136 function as acloud-based architecture for one or more of storage, analysis, andcomputation of data received from and transmitted to the one or morelocal controllers 130, the one or more user controllers 140, and/or theone or more work tool controllers 160.

In another embodiment, the one or more user controllers 140 arecommunicatively coupled to a user interface 146. For example, the userinterface 146 includes a display 148 and/or a user input device 150.

In another embodiment, the display 148 includes any display device knownin the art. For example, the display device may include, but is notlimited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD). By way of another example,the display device may include, but is not limited to, an organiclight-emitting diode (OLED) based display. By way of another example,the display device may include, but is not limited to a CRT display.Those skilled in the art should recognize that a variety of displaydevices may be suitable for implementation in the present disclosure andthe particular choice of display device may depend on a variety offactors, including, but not limited to, form factor, cost, and the like.In a general sense, any display device capable of integration with theuser input device (e.g., touchscreen, bezel mounted interface, keyboard,mouse, trackpad, and the like) is suitable for implementation in thepresent disclosure.

In one embodiment, the user input device 150 includes any user inputdevice known in the art. For example, user input device 150 may include,but is not limited to, a keyboard, a keypad, a touchscreen, a lever, aknob, a scroll wheel, a track ball, a switch, a dial, a sliding bar, ascroll bar, a slide, a handle, a touch pad, a paddle, a steering wheel,a joystick, a bezel input device or the like. In the case of atouchscreen interface, those skilled in the art should recognize that alarge number of touchscreen interfaces may be suitable forimplementation in the present disclosure. For instance, the displaydevice 148 may be integrated with a touchscreen interface, such as, butnot limited to, a capacitive touchscreen, a resistive touchscreen, asurface acoustic based touchscreen, an infrared based touchscreen, orthe like. In a general sense, any touchscreen interface capable ofintegration with the display portion of a display device is suitable forimplementation in the present disclosure. In another embodiment, theuser input device 150 may include, but is not limited to, a bezelmounted interface.

In another embodiment (although not shown), the farming system 100includes a local user interface communicatively coupled to the localcontroller 130. For example, the local user interface may include adisplay and/or a user input device. It is noted herein the displayand/or the user input device of the local user interface may include anydisplay and/or user input device known in the art.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1C through 1E, the one ormore work tool assemblies 114 include one or more work tool sensors 166.In another embodiment, the one or more work tool sensors 166 areconfigured to communicate with the one or more work tool controllers160. In another embodiment, the one or more work tool sensors 166 areconfigured to communicate indirectly with the local controller 130. Inanother embodiment, the one or more work tool sensors 166 are furtherconfigured to communicate indirectly with the user controller 140 viathe one or more servers 136. In another embodiment, the one or more worktool sensors 166 assist in maintaining the height and overall positionof the work tool assembly 144 relative to the instructions given.

In another embodiment, the one or more work tool sensors 166 areconfigured to transmit one or more sets of information to the work toolcontroller 160. For example, the one or more sets of information mayinclude one or more operational parameters of the work tool assembly 114such as, but are not limited to, power consumption, rotational speed ofactuators, rotational capability of actuators, level of loaded materialin a coupled material storage container 120, position coordinates of thework tool assembly 114 location on the field engagement unit 102,position coordinates of the work tool assembly 114 relative to otherwork tool assemblies 114, position coordinates of the work tool assembly114 relative to surrounding environment locations (e.g. a weed or rockin a field), distance coordinates to/from other work tool assemblies114, and the like.

It is noted herein the one or more components of field engagement unit102 may include one or more sensors. For example, the one or moresensors may include one or more linear encoders, one or more levelmeasurement devices, one or more actuation sensors, and the like.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1F, the local controller130 is configured to communicate with one or more in-field sensors 170.In one embodiment, the one or more in-field sensors 170 include one ormore vision sensors disposed near one or more sets of plants. In anotherembodiment, the one or more in-field sensors 170 include one or moresensors buried/protruding from the soil, where the one or more sensorsmeasure water content, nutrient contents, nutrient constituents, andsimilar soil conditions. In another embodiment, the one or more in-fieldsensors 170 include one or more proximity sensors disposed on one ormore obstructions in a field (e.g., buildings, farm implement units,rocks, above-ground pipes, valves, gates, and the like). In anotherembodiment, the one or more in-field sensors 170 include one or moreproximity sensors disposed on buried pipes or cables. In anotherembodiment, the one or more in-field sensors include one or more healthand/or identification sensors disposed on one or more livestock such as,but not limited to, livestock. In another embodiment, the localcontroller is configured to communicate directly with the in-fieldsensors 170. In another embodiment, the local controller 130 isconfigured to communicate indirectly with the in-field sensors 170 viathe one or more servers 136. It is noted herein the user controller 140may be configured to communicate directly or indirectly with thein-field sensors 170. It is further noted herein the work toolcontrollers 160 may be configured to communicate directly or indirectlywith the in-field sensors 170.

FIG. 1G illustrates a process flow diagram depicting a method 180 forcontrolling one or more components of the field engagement unit 102. Itis noted herein that the steps of method 180 may be implemented all orin part by the field engagement unit 102. It is further recognized,however, that the method 180 is not limited to the field engagement unit102 in that additional or alternative system-level embodiments may carryout all or part of the steps of method 180.

In step 182, one or more sets of information are received by the localcontroller 130 from the in-field sensors 170. For example, the one ormore sets of information may include, but are not limited to, soilcondition (e.g., water content or nutrient content) at asensor-monitored location in a field, position coordinates of a weedobserved by a vision system sensor 170, position coordinates of aproximity sensor 170 on an obstruction or a buried/protruding soilsensing device and the field engagement unit 102, and the like.

In step 184, the local controller 130 analyzes the one or more sets ofinformation received from the in-field sensors 170. For example, the oneor more sets of information are analyzed to determine an amount themonitored soil location is deficient of water or nutrients, a distancemeasurement between a weed observed by a vision system sensor 170 andthe field engagement unit 102 based on respective position coordinates,a distance measurement between a proximity sensor 170 on an obstructionor buried/protruding soil sensing device and the field engagement unit102 based on respective position coordinates, and the like.

In step 186, one or more responses to the one or more sets ofinformation are selected by the local controller 130 based on theanalyzed one or more sets of information. In one embodiment, the one ormore responses includes one or more actions or steps to be taken by oneor more components of the field engagement unit 102. For example, theone or more actions may include, but are not limited to, increase wateror nutrients at a monitored soil location, remove the identified weed,or avoid the obstruction/follow the buried/protruding soil sensingdevice. In another embodiment, the local controller 130 selects the oneor more responses from one or more potential responses stored in memory134. In another embodiment, the local controller 130 selects the one ormore responses from one or more responses requested from (and receivedfrom) the one or more servers 136 or the user controller 140.

In step 188, the one or more responses are transmitted to one or morecomponents of the field engagement unit 102. For example, the one ormore responses may adjust the movement of the field engagement unit 102,and are transmitted to one or more components including, but not limitedto, the support structures 110 (e.g., raise or lower the supportassembly 104), the propulsion unit 112 (e.g., increase or decreasespeed), or the steering assembly 500 (e.g., rotate the propulsion unit112). By way of another example, the one or more responses re-positionand/or engage one or more work tool assemblies 114 (e.g., position worktool assembly 114 with nutrient applicator attachment 900 on the worktool rail assembly 108 based on the analyzed position coordinates of asoil spot requiring nutrients and apply the nutrient to the soil spot,position work tool assembly 114 with weeding attachment 800 on the worktool rail assembly 108 based on the analyzed position coordinates of aweed and actuate the weeding attachment 800 to remove the weed, and thelike).

In one example, the in-field sensors 170 first measure the nutrientcontent of monitored soil location to be low. The in-field sensors thentransmit this information to the local controller 130 or to a controllerin the cloud. The local controller 130 then analyzes the information tocalculate the amount the soil is nutrient-deficient, and determines thatadditional nutrients should be applied. The local controller 130 thentransmits the actions of “re-position” to a set of coordinates on thework tool rail assembly 108 to the work tool assembly 114 including thenutrient applicator attachment 900 and a “lower” command, an “apply Xvolume of nutrients”, and a “raise” command to the nutrient applicatorattachment 900.

It is noted herein the one or more sets of information may alternativelyor additionally be received by the one or more servers 136 or the usercontroller 140 from the in-field sensors 170. In this case, the servers136 or the user controller 140 analyze the one or more sets ofinformation. The servers 136 or the user controller 140 then determinesone or more responses including one or more actions or steps to be takenby one or more components of the field engagement unit 102. The servers136 or the user controller 140 then transmit the one or more responsesto the local controller 130, which subsequently transmits the one ormore responses to the one or more components of the field engagementunit 102.

FIG. 1H illustrates a process flow diagram depicting a method 190 forcontrolling one or more components of the field engagement units 102. Itis noted herein that the steps of method 190 may be implemented all orin part by the field engagement unit 102. It is further recognized,however, that the method 190 is not limited to the field engagement unit100 in that additional or alternative system-level embodiments may carryout all or part of the steps of method 190.

In step 192, one or more sets of information are received by the localcontroller 130 from one or more component sensors on the one or morecomponents of the field engagement unit 102. For example, the one ormore sets of information may include, but are not limited to, rotationalspeed of a propulsion unit 102, position coordinates of a work toolassembly 114, amount of material volume in a material storage containeron a work tool assembly 114, and the like.

In step 194, the local controller 130 analyzes the one or more sets ofinformation received from the one or more component sensors. Forexample, the one or more sets of information are analyzed to determine adistance measurement between a current position and intended position ofa work tool assembly 114 on the work tool rail assembly 108, a levelthat the storage container 120 on the work tool assembly 114 isdeficient of product, and the like.

In step 196, one or more responses to the one or more sets ofinformation are selected by the local controller 130 based on theanalyzed one or more sets of information. In one embodiment, the one ormore responses include one or more actions or steps to be taken by oneor more components of the field engagement unit 102. For example, theone or more actions may include, but are not limited to, re-position thework tool assembly 114, fill the material storage container 120 on thework tool assembly 114, and the like. In another embodiment, the localcontroller 130 selects the one or more responses from one or morepotential responses stored in memory 134. In another embodiment, thelocal controller 130 selects the one or more responses from one or moreresponses requested from (and received from) the one or more servers 136or the user controller 140.

In step 198, the one or more responses are transmitted to one or morecomponents of the field engagement unit 102. For example, the one ormore responses may adjust the movement of the field engagement unit 102,and are transmitted to one or more components including, but not limitedto, the support structures 110 (e.g., raise or lower the supportassembly 104), the propulsion unit 112 (e.g., increase or decreasespeed), or the steering assembly 500 (e.g., rotate the propulsion unit112). By way of another example, the one or more responses re-positionand/or engage one or more work tool assemblies 114 (e.g., re-positionwork tool assembly 114 on the work tool rail assembly 108, position thework tool assembly 114 with the material storage container 120 under themanifold assembly 122, and the like).

In one example, position sensors 166 on the work tool assembly 114 mapthe current location of the assembly 114 on the work tool rail assembly108. The position sensors 166 then transmit this information to thelocal controller 130. The local controller 130 then analyzes theinformation to determine the distance the work tool assembly 114 needsto be re-positioned. The local controller 130 then transmits the actionof “re-position to X set of coordinates” on the work tool rail assembly108 to the work tool assembly 114.

It is noted herein the one or more sets of information may alternativelyor additionally be received by the one or more servers 136 or the usercontroller 140 from the in-field sensors 170. In this case, the servers136 or the user controller 140 analyze the one or more sets ofinformation. The servers 136 or the user controller 140 then determinesone or more responses including one or more actions or steps to be takenby one or more components of the field engagement unit 102. The servers136 or the user controller 140 then transmit the one or more responsesto the local controller 130, which subsequently transmits the one ormore responses to the one or more components of the field engagementunit 102.

In one embodiment, the one or more sets of information are received byservers 136 and/or controller 140 from a component of the fieldengagement unit 102.

It is noted herein that one or more sets of information may beseparately or simultaneously received and/or transmitted between the oneor more local controllers 130, the one or more servers 136 and/or theuser controller 140.

Referring again to FIGS. 1A-1F, the system 100 may utilize one or moreimage detectors or cameras to acquire imagery data of crops, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Inone embodiment, the system 100 includes one or more camerascommunicatively coupled to a local controller 130, a user controller140, a server 136 and/or a work tool controller 160. For example, theone or more cameras may include one or more cameras disposed on aportion of one or more field engagement units 102, such as, but notlimited to, a work tool or work tool attachment. By way of anotherexample, the one or more cameras may include one or more cameraspositioned in the field of interest and configured to transmit imagerydata (e.g., transmit via wireless link) to a local controller 130, auser controller 140, a server 136 and/or a work tool controller 160. Byway of another example, the one or more cameras may include one or morecameras contained in a user device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, laptop,PDA wirelessly enabled camera, customized image acquisition device, andthe like) and is configured to transmit imagery data (e.g., transmit viawireless link) to a local controller 130, a user controller 140, aserver 136 and/or a work tool controller 160. In this example, a usermay manually acquire image data of one or more crop plants and, then,the system 100 may aggregate the imagery data from the user devices.

In one embodiment, the local controller 130, user controller 140, server136 and/or work tool controller 160 may execute program instructions toassess the growth of one or more plants or plant parts of a given cropin the field of interest. In this embodiment, the system 100 may takethe place of an agronomist, farmer, or crop scout, which would have toenter a field to manually count assess a plant/crop (e.g., counting thenumber of kernels on a corn ear, in the case of corn). In this case ofcorn, the system 100 may acquire imagery data of the corn and thenprogram instructions running on the local controller 130, usercontroller 140, server 136 and/or work tool controller 160 may assessthe maturity and/or health of the corn. In the case where the userdevice acquires imagery data, a user may break an ear of corn in two andthe user may acquire an additional image of the cross-section of the earof corn, which may further aid in assessing the maturity and/or healthof the individual corn ear and the overall field yield.

Each image may be captured so as to include an item of known relativesize. The item of relative size allows the mobile smart device toautomatically calculate the size of the ear and automatically calculatethe number of kernels using object recognition software. It is conceivedthat such a methodology will provide a quicker and more accurate methodof calculating crop yield.

In another embodiment, at the time of capture, each image is tagged witha GPS (Global Positioning System) position and/or time stamp. In thismanner, as each picture is uploaded to a given server or controller(e.g., via a network), each image maintains global reference to wherethe image was taken. This feature is conceived to allow for traceabilityof the image in comparison to other images taken in other fields formapping purposes (e.g., Google Maps). It is also conceived that thisfunctionality may be used as an audit tool, to ensure that adequate andstatistically-significant field sampling locations are being utilized bythe crop scouts who are typically the providers of such information. Itcan also be used to prove that the crop scout was actually present inthat field at the time shown.

In some embodiments, the images may be taken of crops at differentgrowth stages. The images may then be measured using some commonreference item (e.g., ruler or object of known length). In the case ofcorn, the ear may be shucked to expose the kernels and to obtain anaccurate kernel count. The same may be accomplished by breaking the earin half to measure the diameter. In another embodiment, the imageprocessing algorithm executed by a server and/or controller of thepresent disclosure may deduce crop kernel or crop fruit count and/orsize to eliminate the need for the physical size reference object. Inadditional embodiments, the system may capture images of whole plantssuch as corn, wheat, soybeans, sorghum and the like in order to predictcrop yield. This embodiment may eliminate the need for a human to be inthe field at the time of image capture. The captured image(s) could beused for the same purpose of predictive yield (e.g., number of ears,berries, fruits, etc.) for specialized crops such as, but not limitedto, apples, grapes, tomatoes, pumpkins, grapefruit, blueberries,raspberries, etc. The captured images may be used to i) predict optimalharvest times using size and color of the plant/fruit; ii) utilizeweather forecasting to recommend harvest times; and/or iii) Associatesize of kernel/fruit with storage requirements after harvest.

In additional embodiments, one or more hyperspectral cameras may be usedto obtain predictive yield information. By utilizing hyperspectral orother ranging technology, which allows the filtering of specificmaterial densities, embodiments of the present disclosure may “see” thecrop through the unharvested crop canopy. In some embodiments, usingobject recognition algorithms, yield is calculated proactivelythroughout the crop growing season for the same purposes as listedpreviously herein for a variety of crops (e.g. soybean seeds through thesoybean bush, corn kernels through the ear and stalk, apples through thewoody tree constituents, tomatoes through the stem and plant material,etc.).

This image capture methodology eliminates the need for a human beingpresent to perform the crop scouting yield prediction step. This datamay be used to proactively affect crop yields during the season wheninputs such as fertilizer, herbicides to control weeds, and insecticidesto control pests could actually still affect plant yields for the givenseason.

It is conceived that due to the spatial nature of the image processing,automatic fertilizer, irrigation, herbicide, and insecticide variablerate maps could be generated from the processed images.

Such predictive hyperspectral or other ranging technology could bemounted to an aerial drone, plane, attached to a portion of the fieldengagement unit 102 (e.g., work tool) or mounted to another piece ofagricultural equipment for the purpose of capturing images throughoutthe crop growing season.

In another embodiment, the yield prediction calculation of the presentdisclosure includes the collection of row spacing and plant populationwhich can also be obtained utilizing an image capture methodology asfollows: i) image capturing at least 2 crop rows (including an object ofknown size in order to obtain size-relativity) with a mobile device anduploading to the information to a server and/or controller; ii) theprogram instructions executed by the server and/or controller wouldexecute a prediction algorithm to predict crop yields using thisinformation; and/or iii) plant type, soil type, current and past weatherdata, etc. may also be uploaded to the server and/or controller alongwith the images in order to form a more complete data set. For accuracypurposes, an audit entity might be employed that randomly checks imagesto ensure the algorithm correctly and consistently processes the images.Such software would ensure accurate yield prediction as well as providethe ability to predict optimal harvest time.

It is further noted that any image recognition procedure known in theart may be used in conjunction with system 100. For example, real-timeplant selection is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,064,173 to Redden,issued on Jun. 23, 2015; and U.S. Pat. No. 9,030,549 to Redden, issuedon May 12, 2015, which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIGS. 11 and 1K illustrate an isometric view of a field engagement unit102 of the farming system 100, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. As shown, the field engagementunit 102 includes support assembly 104, which includes the support frame106. The propulsion units 112 are configured to propel the fieldengagement unit 102 along any direction and are coupled to the fieldengagement unit 102 via the support structures 110. In this embodiment,the material storage containers 120 are stored onboard the fieldengagement unit 102. For example, the material storage containers 120may include wedge-shaped containers that are sized and shaped to bereversibly fitted within the support frame 106 of the support assembly104 of the field engagement unit 102. By way of another example, thematerial storage containers 120 may include containers of any shape andsize known in the art.

FIG. 1J illustrates a side view of the field engagement unit 102 of thefarming system 100, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure. In this example, it is noted that material storagecontainers 120 may additionally be placed along the center portion ofthe support frame 106 or coupled to the end portions of the supportframe 106. It is noted the material storage containers 120 are discussedin detail further herein.

While much of the present disclosure focuses on the description of thefield engagement unit 102 of farming system 100 in the context of asingle support assembly (as illustrated in FIGS. 1C and 1D), such aconfiguration should not be interpreted as a limitation on the scope ofthe present disclosure. Rather, a single field engagement unit 102 mayinclude any number of support assemblies 104 and support frames 106. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 1K, the field engagement unit 102 mayinclude, but is not limited to, two support assemblies 104 and twocorresponding support frames 106 (with each support assembly 104including a single support frame 106).

FIGS. 2A-3F illustrate the support assembly 104 of a field engagementunit 102 of system 100, in accordance with one or more embodiments ofthe present disclosure. It is noted herein that the various systemembodiments, components and architecture described previously hereinshould be interpreted to extend to the support assembly 104 of FIGS.2A-2F.

FIG. 2A illustrates a schematic view of the support assembly 104including a support frame 106, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the support frame106 may include, but is not limited to, one or more trusses (e.g., a bowtruss). The truss may take on any shape known in the art. For example,the truss may have, but is not limited to, a triangular prism shape(i.e., the truss has a triangle cross-section when viewed from the endof the support frame 106. By way of another example, the truss may have,but is not limited to, a rectangular prism shape (e.g., the truss has asquare or rectangular cross-section when viewed from the end of thesupport frame 106). It is noted the truss may have up to an N-sidedcross-section (e.g., the truss has an N-side cross-section when viewedfrom the end of the support frame 106). By way of another example, thesupport frame 106 may be constructed from one or more curved structures.For instance, at least a portion of the one or more curved structures(i.e., parabolic structures or bow structures) may be arranged in asubstantially vertical direction (i.e., 90 degrees from ground).Additionally, at least a portion of the one or more parabolic structuresmay be arranged in a substantially horizontal direction (e.g. 0 degreesfrom ground). Additionally, at least a portion of the one or moreparabolic structures may be arranged at a selected angle from the ground(e.g., angle ranging from 0.1-90 degrees from ground). It is noted thatconstructing the support frame 106 with one or more parabolic structuresin this fashion will provide additional support for one or more worktool rail assemblies 108, which are described in additional detailfurther herein.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the support assembly104 includes one or more support structures 110 coupled to andconfigured to support the support frame 106. For example, the supportframe 106 may be coupled to the top portion of the one or more supportstructures 110. In this regard, as the support assembly 104 traverses agiven crop, the support frame 106 will travel above the height of thecrop. In another embodiment, the one or more support structures areconfigured to adjust the elevation of the support frame 106. The one ormore support structures 110 are described in detail further herein.

One or more components of the support assembly 104 may be formed fromany lightweight material known in the art. For example, one or morecomponents of the support assembly 104 may be constructed from, but arenot limited to, carbon fiber, a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, orgraphene. By way of another, one or more components of the supportassembly 104 may be constructed from, but are not limited to, one ormore plastic and/or composite materials. By way of another example, oneor more components of the support assembly 104 may be constructed from,but are not limited to, one or more lightweight metals (e.g., aluminum).It is noted that the construction of the support assembly 104 is notlimited to one or more lightweight materials. For example, one or morecomponents of the support assembly 104 may be formed from one or morenon-lightweight materials, such as, but not limited to, steel, iron, andthe like.

In another embodiment, the support assembly 104 includes one or moremain tubes 202. In one embodiment, the main tube 202 is configured tocarry a volume of a liquid, such as, but not limited to, water. Forexample, the main tube 202 may carry irrigation water. By way of anotherexample, the main tube 202 may carry agricultural material including,but not limited to, fertilizer, insecticide, seed, harvested product,and the like. In another embodiment, the main tube 202 is manufacturedwith a reduced weight profile. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2B,the tube 202 may be a tube (e.g., metal tube) with one or more cut-outs202 a for reducing the weight of the tube 202. Additionally, and/oralternatively, the tube may also include a plastic or other non-metalliclayer, where the plastic layer is configured to line the interior of thetube, line the exterior of the tube and/or fill the one or more cut-outs202 a. In this example, the main tube 202 may be manufactured such thatit has a weight that is approximately 20-50% (e.g., 35%) lighter thanconventional irrigation water tubes constructed from a solid material(e.g., solid metal).

In another embodiment, the support assembly 104 includes the one or morework tool rail assemblies 108. For example, as illustrated in FIG.2C-2E, the support assembly 104 includes a work tool rail 108 a and awork tool rail 108 b. In another embodiment, the support assembly 104includes one or more transfer rails 108 c coupling the one or more worktool rails 108 a or 108 b together. In another embodiment, one or morejunctions 108 d may couple one or more work tool rails 108 a and 108 band or more transfer rails 108 c together. In another embodiment, one ormore junctions 108 e may couple one or more transfer rails 108 ctogether.

It is noted herein the support assembly 104 may include any number ofwork tool rails beyond 108 a and 108 b. It is further noted herein thesupport assembly 104 may include any number of transfer rails 108 c. Itis further noted herein the support assembly 104 may include any numberof junctions 108 d and 108 e.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2F and 2G, the one ormore work tool assemblies 114 are coupled to the work tool rail assembly108. In another embodiment, the work tool assembly 114 includes a worktool attachment (although not shown). For example, the work toolassembly 114 may include an attachment for an application such as, butnot limited to, planting, spraying, fertilizer spreading, and combining.In another embodiment, the one or more work tool assemblies 114 includean identical work tool attachment. In another embodiment, the one ormore work tool assemblies 114 include a different work tool attachment.It is noted that having one or more work tool assemblies 108 thatincludes a work tool attachment for separate functions coupled to thefield engagement unit 102 may remove the need to have a separateagricultural implement traverse the field to perform the separatefunctions. In this regard, traffic flow is lessened and soil compactionis reduced. The one or more work tool attachments of the work toolassembly 114 are described in detail further herein.

For example, the one or more work tool assemblies 114 are coupled to thework tool rail assembly 108 via a slot 109. For example, the slot 109may include conductor plates for the carrier 608 of the work toolassembly 114, described in detail further herein. In another embodiment,the slot 109 may be keyhole-shaped to prevent water from entering theslot 109. It is noted herein the slot 109 is also designed as a keyholefor the safety of the user (e.g., prevents the user from accidentallysticking a hand into the slot 109 and coming into contact withelectrical or mechanical components).

It is noted herein that although one or more embodiments are directed toequal-sized work tool rails in the work tool rail assembly 108, that thework tool rails may instead be of different sizes. For example, thesework tool rails of different sizes may be configured for different uses.In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2H and 2I, the work tool railassembly 108 may include a work tool rail (e.g., 108 b) configured for“heavy-duty” use. For example, one or more work tool assemblies 114 withlarge work tool attachments (e.g., planter attachments) may be coupledto the one or more “heavy-duty” work tool rails 108 b. By way of anotherexample, the work tool rail assembly 108 may include a work tool rail(e.g., 108 a) configured for “light-duty” use. For instance, one or morework tool assemblies 114 with small- or medium-sized work toolattachments (e.g., phenotyping, weeding, or nutrient-applyingattachments) may be coupled to the one or more “light-duty work toolsrails 108 a.

In the case of the work tool rail assembly 108 including “light-duty”rails 108 a, the “light-duty” rails 108 a may be configured totemporarily accept the one or more work tool assemblies 114 coupled tolarge work tool attachments for purposes of rearranging those work toolassemblies, even though the one or more “light-duty” rails 108 a may notbe otherwise configured to accommodate the one or more work toolassemblies 114 coupled to large work tool attachments when those one ormore work tool assemblies 114 are in use.

In another embodiment, the work tool rail assembly 108 may include oneor more work tool rails configured for auxiliary use. In anotherembodiment, one or more work tool assemblies 114 are attached to thework tool rail assembly 108 throughout the growing season. In thisembodiment, the work tool assemblies 114 (e.g., one or more work toolassemblies 114 with plant phenotyping attachments, soil analysisattachments, or nutrient/fertilizer attachments) are stored on theauxiliary work tool rails when not in use by the field engagement unit102 when not in use. In another embodiment, work tool assemblies 114 maybe parked on the auxiliary rails when broken. It is noted herein thatthe field engagement unit 102 may continue to function when a work toolassembly 114 may continue functioning after a tool breaks, albeit at aslower pace.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2I, the work tools rails108 a and 108 b are constructed from one or more sections. In anotherembodiment, the one or more work tool sections of are coupled togetherwith mechanical couplers 108 f and 108 g, respectively.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2J and 2K, the supportassembly 104 includes one or more rail-switch assemblies 204. In anotherembodiment, the rail-switch assembly 204 is configured to be couplableand/or uncouplable to the work tool rails 108 a and 108 b.

It is noted herein the field engagement unit 102 includes one or morecontrol system components to actuate the rail-switch assembly 204. Forexample, the one or more control system components to actuate therail-switch assembly 204 may include a sensor to determine when one ormore work tool assemblies 114 are in the proximity of the rail-switchassembly 204. In this example, the field engagement units may beconfigured to actuate the rail-switch assembly 204 when one or more worktool assemblies 114 are in the proximity of the rail-switch assembly204, thus transferring the one or more proximate work tool assemblies114 between work tool rails 108 a and 108 b. Such a rail-switch assembly204 is necessary to move a work tool assembly 114 from one work toolrail to another so as to allow another work tool assembly 114 to passacross the joint from one work tool rail span to another.

In another embodiment, the one or more work tool assemblies 114 areattached to the work tool rail assembly 108 during a specific phase ofthe growing season. For example, work tool assemblies 114 withrow-planting attachments may be coupled to the work tool rail assembly108 only during the phase of the seed-planting phase of the season. Inthis embodiment, (although not shown), the field engagement unit 102 ofsystem 100 is configured to have one or more work tool assemblies 114loaded and/or unloaded onto the work tool rail assembly 108. Forexample, the system 100 may include a docking system, where the dockingsystem includes one or more components to load and/or unload the worktool assemblies 114. For instance, the docking station may be at a fixedlocation (e.g. a docking station at a home base) or may be mobile (e.g.semi-trailer, truck, or other transport vehicle). In this regard, thework tool assemblies 114 may be removed when not in use and/or as aprecautionary measure against theft during the off-season. Additionally,unloading the work tool assemblies 114 allows for maintenance of thework tool assemblies 114 at a location other than in the field.

FIGS. 3A-3I illustrate the support structure 110 of the field engagementunit 102 of system 100, in accordance with one or more embodiments ofthe present disclosure. It is noted herein that the various systemembodiments, components and architecture described previously hereinshould be interpreted to extend to the support structure 110 of FIGS.3A-3I.

In one embodiment, the support structure 110 may be a rigid structure.In another embodiment, the support structure 110 is configured to be anarticulating support structure.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C, the supportstructure 110 includes a set of hinges 302 (e.g. set of six hinges). Forexample, the set of hinges 302 are necessary to allow the height of thesupport frame 106 to be adjusted. In another embodiment, the set ofhinges 302 couple together one or more support structure sections 304.In another embodiment, the support structure 110 is adjustable from ahigh (e.g., elevated) position 300 a through a mid-position 300 b to alow (e.g., collapsed) position 300 c. In this embodiment, a hinge angle302 a decreases through a hinge angle 302 b to a hinge angle 302 c. Inanother embodiment, the support structure 110 includes a wheel assembly306. In another embodiment, the wheel assembly 306 is configured toutilize a cogged belt or chain assembly 306 a. In another embodiment,the support structure 110 includes a cogged belt or chain assembly 308.In this embodiment, the assemblies 306 a and 308 are configured to actas a counter to when the support structure 110 adjusts from elevatedposition 300 a to collapsed position 300 c by maintaining a selectdistance between one or more ground-contact points 304 a of the one ormore support structure sections 304. Additionally, the assemblies 306 aand 308 allow for alignment to be kept without slipping being observed.In this regard, the kinematic stability of the support structure 110 ismaintained, as the support structure 110 would be under-constrainedwithout the assemblies 306 a and 308. It is noted herein the process ofcollapsing may be reversed to return the support structure 110 to itsextended position 300 a.

In another embodiment (although not shown), the wheel assembly 306includes a telescoping horizontal member instead of the belt or chainassembly 306 a. In this embodiment, the elevation of the support frame106 is adjustable relative to the ground as the horizontal membertelescopes horizontally.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3D-3F, embodiment, thesupport structure 110 includes a set of hinges 312 (e.g. set of sixhinges). For example, the set of hinges 312 are necessary to allow theheight of the support frame 106 to be adjusted. In another embodiment,the set of hinges 312 couple together one or more support structuresections 314. In another embodiment, the support structure 110 isadjustable from a high (e.g., elevated) position 310 a through amid-position 310 b to a low (e.g., collapsed) position 310 c. In thisembodiment, a hinge angle 312 a decreases through a hinge angle 312 b toa hinge angle 312 c. In another embodiment, the support structure 110includes a set of hydraulic units 316. In another embodiment, thesupport structure 110 includes a set of pneumatic units 316. In thisembodiment, the set of hydraulic units or electric actuators 316 areconfigured to actuate the articulating support structure 110 to adjustthe support frame 106 vertically. It is noted herein the set of units308 are synchronized so as to function in a way to keep the supportframe 106 stable while being raised or lowered. In another embodiment,the support structure 110 is coupled to a single propulsion unit 112 ofa fixed length, described in detail further herein. In this embodiment,the fixed length of the propulsion unit 112 is configured to act as acounter when the support structure 110 adjusts from the elevatedposition 310 a to the collapsed position 310 c.

It is noted that the field engagement unit 102 may be configured to lockin the collapsed position 310 c via a lock pin during field operationsincluding, but not limited to, planting, tilling, cultivation, andmechanical weed removal. Locking the field engagement unit 102 inposition 310 c transfers force into the lock pin from the supportstructure sections 314. In this regard, the moment of inertia on thesupport structure 106 caused by the ground/work tool assemblyinteraction might be minimized. Without the lock pin, the supportstructures 312 would be larger to handle the entire load when performingfield operations such as those listed above, subsequently increasing theweight of the field engagement unit 102.

It is further noted that, in the case of high winds, the fieldengagement unit 102 may be configured to lower so as to minimize damageto the structure from the high winds. It is contemplated the fieldengagement unit 102 would often not be running at the time of a storm,so there is no power available for lowering such a unit for itsprotection. One perceived benefit of using hydraulics for verticallymoving the support structure 106 is that it would be possible to releasehydraulic oil from the hydraulic cylinders directly to a hydraulicreservoir. Through the use of remote commands or an on-board userinterface, it is possible to open the respective hydraulic valve on eachsupport tower, thus lowering such a unit for its protection. A smallbattery on one or more vertical support structure members mayadditionally be used to temporarily to allow the release of hydraulicfluid. It is noted herein the above description may be adjusted to applyto pneumatic systems as well.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3G-3J, the supportstructure 110 includes one or more vertical support structure members322. In another embodiment, one or more propulsion units 112 are coupledto the one or more vertical support structure members 322. In anotherembodiment, one or more horizontal support structure members 324 arecoupled to the support frame 106 via a set of hinges 326. For example,the set of hinges are actuatable about an axis approximatelyperpendicular to the ground (e.g., the z-axis), and are configured to beutilized during transportation of the field engagement unit 102, asdescribed in detail further herein. In another embodiment, the one ormore horizontal support structure members 324 are coupled to the one ormore vertical support structure members 322 via one or more slidingcollar devices 328.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3J, a rack strip 330 aruns the vertical length of the vertical support structure members 322.In another embodiment, a motor and pinion gear assembly 330 b is coupledto the exterior of the sliding collar devices 328. In anotherembodiment, the pinion gear portion of the assembly 330 b mechanicallycouples to the rack strip 330 a through a hole in the sliding collardevice 328. In another embodiment, the mechanically coupled rack strip330 a and assembly 330 b are configured to actuate the support frame 106to adjust the support frame 106 vertically. In another embodiment, thesupport frame 106 is adjusted from a low (e.g., collapsed) position 320a through a mid-position 320 b to a high (e.g., elevated) position 320c. For instance, the support frame 106 is adjusted from the mid-position330 b to a high position 330 c. It is noted this process may be reversedto return the support frame 106 to the low position 330 a.

In another embodiment, the support structures 110 are configured to beindependently actuatable. In another embodiment, the support frames 106may be adjusted to different elevations from the other one or moresupport frames 106 of the field engagement unit 102. In anotherembodiment, the support structures 110 as illustrated in FIGS. 3G-3J areconfigured to actuate one side of the support structure 110 a differentamount from the other side. In one example, where the field engagementunit 102 is situated on a hill face, the field engagement unit 102 maybe configured to actuate the up-hill side of support structures 110higher than the down-hill side to maintain the levelness of the supportframe 106. In another embodiment, the support structures 110 areconfigured to raise or lower to keep the sides of the support frame 106in a pre-determined best position relative to the ground or targetedworking surface.

In another embodiment (although not shown), the support structures 110include one or more nested sections. In this embodiment, the supportstructures 110 are configured to be telescopic. For example, the supportstructures 110 may be comprised of two or more nested sections, whereina lowest section is configured to telescope into one or more highersections. In another embodiment, the support frame 106 is coupled to ahighest section, such that the elevation of the support frame 106 isadjusted by one or more lower sections being configured to telescopeinto the highest section.

It is noted herein the field engagement unit 102 includes one or morecontrol system components to control any electrical height adjustmentsystems, any hydraulic height adjustment systems, any pneumatic heightadjustment systems, or any mechanical height adjustment systems withinthe support structure 110.

It is further noted herein that one or more inclinometers may be used tolevel the support frame 106 relative to the propulsion units 112. It isfurther noted herein the field engagement unit 102 includes one or moreground-scanning sensor system components to measure the elevation of thesupport frame 106. For example, the support structures 110 may includethe one or more ground-scanning sensor system components to measure theelevation of the support frame 106 including, but not limited to,ground-contacting wheels, skids, and arms; biomass-penetrating RADAR;LIDAR; ultrasonic waves; or laser beams.

The above systems to measure and control the height adjustment of thesupport frame 106 by adjusting the support structure 110, may beutilized in a redundant manner to minimize faults or damage to thesystem. For example, a ground-scanning sensor system such as LIDAR maybe utilized in combination with an elevation measurement of the supportframe 106 relative to the field engagement unit system's geometry, wherethe geometry measurement is skewed due to the field engagement unitbeing partially sunk below ground. By way of another example, the actualheight measurement of the ground surface may be measured through theutilization of one or more work tools that are ground-contacting. By wayof another example, the actual height measurement of the ground surfacemay be measured through the utilization of technologies for measuringthe ground through any biomass that might be covering the ground. Inthis example, the biomass-penetrating technology is rigidly fixed to oractuatable on the support structure 106 or work tool rail assembly 108.The biomass-penetrating technology may be targeted to constantly scan ormeasure the surface of the ground in order to provide the properinstructions to the variety of work tools for their most efficient andproductive operations.

It is noted herein that the field engagement support 102 may beconfigured to adjust the elevation of the support frame 106 so as tooperate one or more work tool assemblies 114 at various crop heights.For example, the field engagement unit 102 may be configured to adjustits elevation to irrigate closer to an immature crop. It is noted thatirrigation water drift due to the effects of wind is reduced by loweringthe water-carrying nozzles closer to the ground surface. By way ofanother example, the field engagement unit 102 configured to verticallyadjust the support frame 106 may operate one or more onboard work toolassemblies 114 at various soil depths. It is further noted that thefield engagement unit 102 may be configured to adjust the elevation ofthe support frame 106 so as to load or unload one or more work toolassemblies 114.

It is further noted that a field engagement unit 102 is more stable whenthe support frame 106 is situated at a lower elevation. For example, theamount of cross-sectional area exposed to wind is lessened when thesupport frame 106 is situated at a lower elevation, thus reducing thepossibility of the field engagement unit 102 being damaged by highwinds.

It is noted herein that although the above embodiments are directed toan adjustable support assembly with a variable height, the supportassembly may instead have a fixed height. Therefore, the abovedescription should not be interpreted as a limitation on the presentinvention but merely an illustration.

FIGS. 4A-4I illustrate the one or more propulsion units 112 of the fieldengagement unit 102 of system 100, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted herein that thevarious system embodiments, components and architecture describedpreviously herein should be interpreted to extend to the propulsion unit112 of FIGS. 4A-4I.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the propulsionunit 112 includes one or more drive wheels 402. In another embodiment,the propulsion unit 112 includes one or more idler wheels 404. Inanother embodiment, the propulsion unit 112 includes one or more tracks406. For example, the tracks 406 may be constructed from rubber. Forinstance, the tracks 406 may be constructed from vulcanized rubber. Byway of another embodiment, the tracks 406 may be constructed from steel.In another embodiment, where the propulsion unit 112 is configured toutilize a positive track belt system, the tracks 406 include one or moreprotrusions 406 a.

In another embodiment, the propulsion unit 112 includes one or morepropulsion unit frames 408. In another embodiment, the drive wheel 402and the idler wheel 404 are coupled to the propulsion unit frame 408.For example, the drive wheel 402 and the idler wheel 404 may be coupledto the propulsion unit frame 408 at opposite ends. In anotherembodiment, the propulsion unit 112 has one or more support structurecoupling points 416.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the propulsion unit112 includes one or more intermediate rollers 410. It is noted theintermediate rollers 410 are configured to provide support for the track406, such that the track 406 maintains even soil contact between thedrive wheel 402 and the idler wheel 404 while the propulsion unit 112traverses over uneven ground. In another embodiment, the intermediaterollers 410 are coupled to a roller linkage 412, the roller linkage 412being coupled to the propulsion unit frame 408. It is noted the rollerlinkage 412 and the intermediate rollers 410 are configured to provide asuspension-dampening effect to the propulsion unit 112 through a pinnedconnection to the propulsion unit frame 408. In another embodiment, thepropulsion unit 112 includes a spring assembly 414. It is noted hereinthe spring 414 is configured to provide a belt-tensioning effect to thetrack 406 as it travels around the drive wheel 402, the idler wheel 404,and the intermediate rollers 410. It is further noted herein the springassembly 414 is configured to provide constant tensioning to the track406.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the propulsion unit112 includes one or more sliders 420. It is noted the sliders 420 isconfigured to provide support for the track 406, allowing the track 406to maintain even soil contact between the drive wheel 402 and the idlerwheel 404 while allowing the propulsion unit 112 to move over unevenground. In another embodiment, the sliders 420 are coupled to a sliderlinkage 422, the slider linkage 422 being coupled to the propulsion unitframe 408. It is noted the slider linkage 422 and the one or moresliders 420 are configured to provide a suspension-dampening effect tothe propulsion unit 112 through a pinned connection to the propulsionunit frame 408. In another embodiment, the propulsion unit 112 includesa spring assembly 424. In another embodiment, the spring assembly 424includes a roller 426. It is noted herein the spring assembly 424 isconfigured to provide a belt-tensioning effect to the track 406 as ittravels around the drive wheel 402 and the idler wheel 404.

It is noted herein configuring the propulsion unit 112 with tracksremoves the possibility of flat tires observed in a pneumatic tireassembly. Additionally, a track-configured propulsion unit 112 has animproved ability to climb hills due to better soil contact. However, thepropulsion unit 112 may be configured with a tire assembly including oneor more tires. For example, each tire may be hard rubber. By way ofanother example, each tire may be pneumatic. Therefore, the abovedescription should not be interpreted as a limitation on the presentinvention but merely an illustration.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4C, one or more of thedrive wheel 402 and the idler wheel 404 are mounted within thepropulsion unit frame 408. It is noted herein mounting the wheels 402and/or 404 within the propulsion unit frame 408 is a “clevis-stylemounting” for purposes of the present disclosure. In another embodiment,as illustrated in FIG. 4D, one or more of the drive wheel 402 and theidler wheel 404 are mounted outside the propulsion unit frame 408. It isnoted herein mounting the wheels 402 and/or 404 outside the propulsionunit frame 408 is called a “cantilever-style mounting” for purposes ofthe present disclosure.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4E as a clevis-stylemounting and FIG. 4F as a cantilever-style mounting, the drive wheel 402of the propulsion unit 112 is configured to be actuated by an insetmotor 430. In another embodiment, the inset motor 430 is coupled to aplanetary reducer, where the planetary reducer is coupled to thepropulsion unit frame 408. In another embodiment, the inset motor 430 ismechanically coupled to a planetary gearbox 432. In another embodiment,the planetary gearbox 432 is configured to rotate about a bearingassembly. In another embodiment, the planetary gearbox drives the drivewheel 404, which comes into contact with the track 406 or a wheel 407 atthe outside rim 436.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4G as a clevis-stylemounting and FIG. 4H as a cantilever-style mounting, the drive wheel 402of the propulsion unit 112 is configured to be actuated by an inset hubmotor 440. In another embodiment, the inset hub motor 440 is configuredwith a permanent magnet motor direct drive. It is noted the permanentmagnet motor direct drive configuration would be able to maintain ahigh-torque-at-low-speed setting. It is further noted the permanentmagnet motor direct drive configuration would be in a fully-sealedsystem with fewer moving parts, reducing part complexity and minimizingfootprint width of the one or more propulsion units 112. It is believeda minimized footprint width is important, as it allows the fieldengagement unit 102 to traverse a field with a minimum overall track,resulting in more farmable land being available.

In another embodiment, the outside hub 436 includes one or more notches442, the one or more notches 442 configured to receive one or moreprotrusions 406 a of the track belt 406. In this regard, the one or morenotches 442 would apply some amount of braking force to the one or morepropulsion units 112, including when the hub motor 440 is in ade-energized, non-movable state. Additionally, the one or more notches442 would assist the field engagement unit 102 in retaining its positionwhen the propulsion unit 112 is de-energized, functioning in a capacitysimilar to a parking brake (i.e. when the field engagement unit 102 isparked on uneven ground like a side hill). Although this embodiment isdirected to FIGS. 4G and 4H, it is noted herein the embodiment is alsoapplicable to FIGS. 4E and 4F.

FIG. 4I illustrates a propulsion unit 112, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, thepropulsion unit 112 includes a drive wheel 452. In another embodiment,the propulsion unit 112 includes a guide roller 454. It is noted thatalthough the guide roller 454 is illustrated in FIG. 4I to be smaller indiameter than drive wheel 452, guide roller 454 may be any diameterincluding, but not limited to, the diameter of drive wheel 452. Inanother embodiment, the propulsion unit 112 includes one or more rollers456. In another embodiment, the propulsion unit 112 includes a track458. For example, the track 458 may be constructed from rubber. Forinstance, the track 458 may be constructed from vulcanized rubber. Byway of another example, the track 458 may be constructed from steel. Inanother embodiment, where the propulsion unit 112 is configured toutilize a positive track belt system, the tracks 458 include one or moreprotrusions 458 a.

In another embodiment, the propulsion unit 112 includes a propulsionunit frame 460. In another embodiment, the drive wheel 452, the guideroller 454, and the rollers 456 are coupled to the propulsion frame 460.For example, the drive wheel 452 and the guide roller 454 are coupled atopposite ends of the propulsion unit 112. By way of another example, therollers 456 are coupled to the propulsion unit frame 460 between thedrive wheel 452 and the guide roller 454. It is noted the one or morerollers 456 are configured to provide support for the track 458, suchthat the track 458 maintains even soil contact between the drive wheel452 and the guide roller 454 while the propulsion unit 112 traversesover uneven ground. In another embodiment, the propulsion unit frame 460includes one or more components configured to provide a belt-tensioningeffect to the track 458. For example, the one or more components mayinclude a compression spring. By way of another example, the one or morecomponents may include a rear cantilevered tube, which allows a matingtube (e.g. the tube of propulsion unit frame 460 coupled to the roller454) to telescope. In this regard, constant belt tension may bemaintained. By way of another example, the one or more components mayinclude a coil spring and a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinderwith an accumulator.

In another embodiment, the drive wheel 452 is driven by a hub motor 462.In one embodiment, the propulsion unit 112 includes a positivedrive-style track drive, where the hub motor 462 has one or more notches464 that correspond to the protrusions 458 a of the track 458. Inanother embodiment, the propulsion unit 112 includes a friction rackdrive system, where belt tension maintains friction between the drivewheel 452, the idler wheel 454, the one or more rollers 456, and a track458 with no protrusions 458 a (e.g. is smooth with no positive driveprotrusions).

In another embodiment, the propulsion unit 112 includes one or morecomponents configured to allow articulation of the propulsion unit 112mid-assembly. For example, the one or more components may include anarticulation joint 472. For instance, as illustrated in FIG. 4I, thearticulation joint 472 may be configured to rotate the entire propulsionunit 112 about a pivoting axis underneath the support structure 110. Inthis regard, the propulsion unit 112 may conform to changes in the slopeof the ground with less impact than if the propulsion unit 112 wererigidly fixed at a select angle underneath the support structure 110.Additionally, the articulation joint 472 may be configured to providetension to the track 458 when the propulsion unit 112 flexesmid-assembly. In another embodiment, a length of the bottom track faceis set at an angle 466 offset from ground. In this regard, thepropulsion unit 112 is capable of actuation in scenarios beyond thosepossible with only a fully flat bottom track face, including thosescenarios where the propulsion unit 112 is required to climb an abruptobstruction.

In another embodiment, the propulsion unit 112 includes a steeringassembly platform 470. For example, the propulsion unit 112 may becoupled to the steering assembly platform 470 via the articulation joint472. In another embodiment, the propulsion unit 112 is coupled to asteering assembly 500 via the steering assembly platform 470, thesteering assembly 500 being coupled to the support structure 110. Thesteering assembly 500 is described in detail further herein.

It is noted herein that a single drive wheel 402 and 452 is illustratedin FIGS. 4A-4I, as a single drive roller design is believed to be thelowest cost solution for the propulsion unit 112. However, any number ofdrive wheels 402 may be implemented in the propulsion unit 112. Forexample, the propulsion unit 112 may include a two-wheel-drive system.In the case of FIGS. 4A and 4B, the idler wheel 404 would instead be adrive wheel 402. In the case of FIG. 4I, the guide roller 454 wouldinstead be a drive wheel 452. It is noted such a two-wheel-drive systemwould be advantageous. For example, the two-wheel-drive system could beutilized in a powered wheel design in situations where the fieldengagement unit 102 traverses both forwards and backwards equally. It isnoted having multiple drive wheels 402 or 452 allows for a reduction inthe size of motors and gearboxes of the drive wheels 402 or 452.Therefore, the above description should not be interpreted as alimitation on the present invention but merely an illustration.

It is further noted herein the inset motor 430 and hub motor 440illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4I may be electric-powered. For example,measured electric-powered system components include, but are not limitedto, roller/track speed, rotational position of the track based onvoltage input or output fluctuations, slip between drive and idlerwheels, and calculated slip (i.e., the comparison of theoretical GPSlocation to travel speed). As such, it is recognized the embodimentsillustrated in FIGS. 4A-4I include one or more control system componentsto control one or more electrical propulsion drive systems within theone or more propulsion units 112. However, the inset motor 430 and hubmotor 440 may alternatively be powered by any suitable power sourceincluding, but not limited to, gasoline, diesel, hydraulic, or pneumaticpower solutions. In the case of hydraulic power solutions, it isrecognized the propulsion unit 112 includes one or more components tomeasure hydraulic system component performance. For example, measuredhydraulic system components include, but are not limited to hydraulicpressure and flow within the system. Therefore, the above descriptionshould not be interpreted as a limitation on the present invention butmerely an illustration.

In other embodiments, the idler wheel 404 is mechanically coupled to thedrive wheel 402 via a chain or belt drive assembly, where both the idlerwheel 404 and the drive wheel 402 have a spur gear or pulley that matewith the chain or belt drive, respectively. In this embodiment, thedrive wheel 402 actuates both the drive wheel 402 and the idler wheel404. In another embodiment, a protective cover may be installed over thechain, gears, and motor.

It is noted herein embodiments for the propulsion units 112 are directedto reducing the numbers of components of the propulsion system such thatthe overall weight and/or cost of the propulsion system is reduced andreliability is improved. In this regard, at least some of the soilcompaction observed in propulsion systems is negated, the depth of fieldruts is reduced, and the possibility of the field engagement unit 102getting stuck while in the field is lessened.

It is further noted embodiments for the propulsion units 112 aredirected to a new electric drive solution. For example, the electricdrive solution may be configured to be continuously-moving whileutilizing variable speeds. By way of another example, the electric drivesolution may provide more precise position control than the start andstop technology in self-propelled irrigation systems. Additionalembodiments are directed to a wide range of torque and speed controlincluding, but not limited to, high-speed, low-torque capabilities;low-torque, high-speed capabilities; variable speed capabilities; andthe capability to switch from a start-stop mode to a continuousactuation. In this regard, fatigue on the structural components of thefield engagement unit 102 is reduced. Additionally, continuous-movepropulsion units are believed to be more energy efficient thancontinually starting/stopping of an electric motor.

It is noted herein propulsion units 112 on a field engagement unit 102may be actuated together or independent of each other.

In one example, the speed of the field engagement unit 102 may beincreased. In this example, the local controller 130 may receive one ormore sets of information such as, but not limited to, voltageinput/output, rotational speed of the motor, and the like from thepropulsion unit 112. The local controller 130 may then determine whatresponse is necessary based on the one or more sets of information(increase voltage to increase rotational speed of the motor to aselectable value). The local controller 130 may then transmit theresponse to the one or more propulsion units 112.

FIGS. 5A-5H illustrate a steering assembly 500 for the field engagementunit 102 of system 100. It is noted herein that the various systemembodiments, components and architecture described previously hereinshould be interpreted to extend to the steering assembly 500 of FIGS.5A-5H.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a steering assembly 500, in accordance withone or more embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment,the steering assembly 500 includes a steering assembly frame 502. Inanother embodiment, the steering assembly 500 is coupled to a crossmember 504. In another embodiment, the steering assembly frame 502 iscoupled to the steering assembly platform 470, where the steeringassembly platform 470 is coupled to the propulsion unit 112 as describedpreviously herein.

In another embodiment, the steering assembly 500 includes a motor 506.For example, the motor 506 may be actuated by electricity. By way ofanother example, the motor 506 may actuated by one or more hydrauliccomponents. By way of another example, the motor 506 may actuated by oneor more pneumatic components. In another embodiment, the steeringassembly 500 includes a pinion gear 508 mechanically coupled to themotor 506. In another embodiment, the steering assembly frame 502includes a ring gear 510 mechanically coupled to the pinion gear 508. Inanother embodiment, the ring gear 510 is coupled to the steeringassembly platform 470. For example, the propulsion unit 112 isconfigured to rotate with rotation of the steering assembly platform470.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the motor 506, piniongear 508, and ring gear 510 are internally housed within the steeringassembly frame 502. In this embodiment, the pinion gear 508 ismechanically coupled to the interior of ring gear 510. In anotherembodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the motor 506, pinion gear 508,and ring gear 510 are coupled to the exterior of the steering assemblyframe 502. It this embodiment, the pinion gear 508 is mechanicallycoupled to the exterior of ring gear 510. In another embodiment(although not shown), a shield covers the exposed motor 506, pinion gear508, and ring gear 510.

It is noted herein the field engagement units 102 include one or morecontrol system components to control one or more electrical steeringsystems within the steering assembly 500. For example, the one or moreelectrical steering control system components within the steeringassembly 500 may include, but are not limited to, angle sensors thatmeasure the angular position of each propulsion unit 112 (e.g., angularposition of the ring gear 510), rotary position of the electric motor506, and linear position of the one or more electric actuators. It isfurther noted herein the field engagement unit 102 includes one or morehydraulic system components necessary to control one or more hydraulicsteering systems within the steering assembly 500. For example, the oneor more hydraulic steering control system components within the steeringassembly 500 may include, but are not limited to, linear position of theone or more hydraulic cylinders.

FIGS. 5C and 5D illustrate the support structure 110 for the fieldengagement unit 102. In one embodiment, the support structure 110includes one or more propulsion units 112 coupled to the one or moresupport structures 110. For example, the one or more propulsion units112 may be coupled to one or more steering assemblies 500. By way ofanother example, the one or more steering assemblies 500 may be coupledto the one or more support structures 110. In another embodiment, thecross member 504 mechanically couples the one or more support structures110 together.

For example, the support structure 110 may include two supportstructures 110, two steering assemblies 500, and two propulsion units112, where each propulsion unit 112 is coupled to a support structure110 via a steering assembly 500. In this example, the two propulsionunits 112 may be configured to be actuated simultaneously as a singlesteering unit. It is noted herein that the propulsion units 112 on thesame support structure 110 must be actuated as a unified pair to preventthe field engagement unit 102 from breaking.

By way of another example, the propulsion units 112 of the fieldengagement unit 102 may be configured to actuate in an identical manner,implementing a form of crab steering. For example, crab steering drivesall wheels in the same direction and at the same angle. Crab steeringallows for a vehicle to proceed in a straight line but under an angle,or when the rear wheels may not follow the front wheel tracks. In thisregard, soil compaction may be reduced.

In another embodiment, each propulsion unit 112 may be configured toactuate independently from the other propulsion units 112. However, itis noted herein this may damage the field engagement unit 102.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5C, the support structure110 is in “field mode”, where the one or more propulsion units 112 ofthe support structure 110 are substantially parallel to the cross member504. In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5D, the supportstructure 110 is in “transport mode”, where the one or more propulsionunits 112 of the support structure 110 are substantially perpendicularto the cross member 504.

FIGS. 5E-5G illustrate top views of the support structure 110 withvarious angles of difference between the one or more propulsion units112 and the cross member 504. For example, the various angles ofdifference occur while the support structure 110 transitions from “fieldmode” to “transport mode”. In one embodiment, the support structure 110is in “field mode” with an angle 510. For example, the angle 510 may bezero degrees. In another embodiment, the support structure 110 ispartially transitioned from “field mode” to “transport mode”, with anangle 512. For example, the angle 512 may range from 0.1-89.9 degrees.For instance, the angle 512 may be 45 degrees. In another embodiment,the support structure 110 is in “transport mode” with an angle 514. Forexample, the angle 514 may be 90 degrees. By way of another example, theangle 514 may be more or less than 90 degrees.

It is noted herein that “field mode” and “transport mode” is not limitedto zero degrees and 90 degrees, respectively, but may include any angleof difference between the one or more propulsion units 112 and the crossmember 504. For example, the angle of difference during “field mode” maybe 90 degrees when the field engagement unit is shifting from one spanlength of rows to a second span length of rows. By way of anotherexample, the angle of difference during “field mode” may range from 0-90degrees depending on the shape of the field and the direction of therows within the field. In this regard, the propulsion unit 112 isconfigured to provide omnidirectional functionality when coupled to asteering assembly 500 to the field engagement unit 102. For example, theomnidirectional functionality allows a free-range field engagement unit102 to travel in any area shape desired (e.g., circular-shaped,square-shaped, rectangular-shaped). By way of another example, theomnidirectional functionality allows a center pivot field engagementunit 102 to travel in any area shape desired (e.g., circular-shaped,square-shaped, rectangular-shaped) within the radius defined by thefully-extended center-pivot docked field engagement unit 102. Therefore,the above description should not be interpreted as a limitation on thepresent invention but merely an illustration.

It is further noted herein that the angle of rotation of the propulsionunit 112 coupled to a steering assembly 500 is not intended to belimited to the 90 degrees of rotational steering travel that may occurwhen switching from “field mode” to “transport mode” or reverse. Forexample, at least another 180 degrees of rotational steering travel ispossible with the above embodiments. In this regard, all embodimentsabove are intended to be configured to allow for at least 270 degrees ofrotational steering travel. Additionally, further embodiments include aninfinite rotational capability of each propulsion unit 112. Therefore,the above description should not be interpreted as a limitation on thepresent invention but merely an illustration.

FIG. 5H illustrates the field engagement unit 102, in accordance withone or more embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment,the field engagement unit 102 includes one or more support assemblies104 coupled to one or more support structures 110. In anotherembodiment, the support structures 110 are configured to beindependently actuatable. For example, a particular support structure110 may include a steering unit, the steering unit including one or moresteering assemblies 500 coupled to one or more propulsion units 112. Inthis example, the steering unit of the particular support structure 110may be configured to actuate independently from the steering units ofthe other support structures 110 in the set 550. For instance, asillustrated in FIG. 5H, the support structures 110 each have a differentsteering angle 520, 522, and 524.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5I, the steering assembly530 includes a one or more steering-cylinder and tie-rod assemblies. Inone embodiment, the steering assembly 530 includes one or more tie rods532. In another embodiment, the steering assembly includes one or moresteering cylinders 534. In another embodiment, the steering assembly 530is configured to achieve rotational steering travel greater than 180degrees with two or more electric actuators or hydraulic cylinders. Fora desired target rotational steering travel of at least 270 degrees,coordinated movement of the two hydraulic cylinders or two electricactuators is necessary in order to maintain control of the steering asit goes “over center.” It is noted steering position may be determinedby measuring the length of the hydraulic cylinders and/or electricactuators.

It is noted the movement of the propulsion units 112 within a particularsupport structure 110 must be coordinated. For example, coordinationbetween the propulsion units 112 may require, but is not limited to,measuring the angle of a propulsion unit 112, comparing the measuredangle to the other propulsion unit 112, and guiding the other propulsionunit 112 within the support structure 110 based on the measured angle.It is noted the coordination between the one or more propulsion units112 within the support structure 110 may create, but is not limited to,a “master-slave” relationship. For example, the angle of both propulsionunit 112 may be measured and compared, with each angle adjusted toachieve a desired angle.

In another embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 is configured todetermine the location of a support structure 110 based on triangulationutilizing signals from near-field Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RF, LoRa, or otherlocal wireless communications. For example, the field engagement unit102 may be configured to compare broadcasted signals from devices thatare compared relative to one or more known fixed locations in or aroundthe field to calculate location. It is noted the use of local wirelesscommunications for triangulation allows for redundancy in the case theGPS broadcast fails or is obstructed enough to prevent precise positionguidance.

In another embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 is configured todetermine the location of a support structure 110 based on one or moresensors on the support structure 110 including, but not limited to,on-board vision systems, scanning lasers, and LIDAR. In this embodiment,the field engagement unit 102 is configured to utilize the one or moresensors to follow physical markers including, but not limited to, croprows, edges of fields, or physical infrastructure.

In another embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 is configured todetermine position of the support structure 110 via fiber optic lines.In this embodiment, fiber optics lines are strung between adjacentsupport structures 110 and the field engagement unit 102, through whichlight (e.g., sunlight or illumination from a light source coupled to thefiber optic line) passes. When the angle of the fiber optic linechanges, the length of time that light travels through the fiberchanges. In this regard, it is possible to measure the angle of onesupport structure 110 relative to an adjacent support structure 110, andis targeted as a replacement of limit switches.

In another embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 is configured todetermine the location of a support structure 110 by sensing one or moreelectric cables buried in a field. In another embodiment, the fieldengagement unit 102 is configured to determine the location of a supportstructure 110 via one or more load cells incorporated into the supportstructure 110. In this embodiment, the load cells are configured tomeasure draft loads and vertical carrying loads of the particularsupport structure 110. The field engagement unit 102 is configured tolimit the travel of a particular support structure 110 when apre-defined load rating is measured, preventing the system fromunnecessary wear that would occur if the support structure 110 were tocontinue to travel beyond the point the load rating was measured.

In another embodiment, the independently-actuatable steering units(e.g., one or more steering assemblies 500 and one or more propulsionunits 112) in multiple field engagement units 102 allow for thetransportation of the multiple field engagement units 102 in atrain-like formation to another field. It is noted that the independentactuation of the steering units in each field engagement unit 102 wouldallow for navigation of tight turning situations, such as 90-degreeturns when entering or exiting a roadway. In another embodiment, thefield engagement units 102 are configured to compare the GlobalPositioning System (GPS) location of the other field engagement units102 so as to monitor, modify, and keep spacing. In another embodiment,the field engagement units 102 are configured to compare the geo-spatialposition of each support structure 110 in the one or more fieldengagement units 102 to a pre-planned route as defined in a proprietaryor commercially-available virtual geo-spatial maps like Google Maps,Mapbox, Apple Maps, or the like.

In another embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 is configured tocontrol its direction of travel via geo-spatial position in a givenfield to control the one or more propulsion units 112. In thisembodiment, a control system is configured to utilize the GPS coordinateof the support structures 110 to accurately determine the position thepropulsion units 112 under the support structures 110. Accuratepositioning information obtained from each GPS receiver per supportstructure 110 allows the system to be positioned accurately according toa “prescription” or preprogrammed geo-spatial work order. In thisregard, coordinated movement may be implemented where one or more fieldengagement units 102 are used simultaneously, including a range ofcoordinated movement based on a much greater set of movement angles thanpossible with center-pivot or lateral-move irrigation systems. In thisregard, the field engagement unit 102 is able to steer itself accordingto where the field engagement unit 102 should be in a defined geo-spacewith respect to the other field engagement units 102.

In another embodiment, one or more work tool assemblies 114 with one ormore imaging or environment-scanning tools are configured to provide thefield engagement 102 environment data regarding the upcoming path. Inthis regard, the field engagement unit 102 may avoid field obstacles.

In one example, the angle of a particular steering assembly 500 may beadjusted. In this example, the local controller 130 may receive one ormore sets of information such as, but not limited to, current anglerelative to cross member 504, or current angle compared to one or moreadditional steering assemblies 500, and the like from the steeringassembly 500. The local controller 130 may then determine what responseis necessary based on the one or more sets of information (e.g., changethe steering assembly angle to match the additional steering assemblies500 angle; change both the steering assembly 500 angle and theadditional steering assemblies 500 angle to match a new angle, and thelike). The local controller 130 may then transmit the response to theparticular steering assembly 500, or both the particular and theadditional steering assemblies 500.

FIGS. 6A-13 illustrate the one or more work tool assemblies 114 of thefield engagement unit 102 of system 100, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted herein that thevarious system embodiments, components and architecture describedpreviously herein should be interpreted to extend to FIGS. 6A-13.

It is noted herein the field engagement unit 102 is configured tooperate the one or more work tool assemblies 114 simultaneously. Forexample, the field engagement unit 102 may be configured to operate theone or more of the multiple work tool assemblies 114 in a synchronizedmanner. In this regard, traditional row-based management of a field ispossible with the field engagement 102. By way of another example, oneor more of the multiple work tool assemblies 114 may be configured tooperate simultaneously and independently. In this regard, pick-and-placemanagement of a field is possible with the field engagement unit 102. Inanother embodiment, the one or more work tool assemblies 114 of thefield engagement 102 are configured with one or more attachments suchthat the field engagement unit 102 may continue to operate despite thefailure of one or more work tool assemblies 114.

In one embodiment, the work tool assembly 114 includes one or morecomponents. For example, the work tool assembly 114 may include acarrier component. For instance, the carrier component allows the worktool assembly 114 to travel along the work tool rail assembly 108. Byway of another example, the work tool assembly 114 may include a worktool attachment. By way of another example, the work tool assembly 114may include a robot or chassis component coupled to the carriercomponent and the work tool attachment. For instance, the chassiscomponent positions the work tool attachment.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the work toolassemblies 114 includes a chassis 602 a. In another embodiment, asillustrated in FIGS. 6C-6G, the work tool assemblies 114 include achassis 602 b. In another embodiment, the chassis 602 a and 602 binclude one or more actuatable arms 604. For example, the arms 604include one or more arm sections 604 a. By way of another example, thearms 604 include one or more hinges 604 b. By way of another example,the hinges 604 b couple together one or more arm sections 604 a.

In another embodiment, the chassis 602 a and 602 b are configured tolinearly position a work tool attachment in one or more axes. Forexample, the work tool attachment may be positioned along a single axis(e.g., along the z-axis when raising and lowering). By way of anotherexample, the work tool attachment may be positioned along a pair of axes(e.g., along the x- and y-axis when positioning on the work tool railassembly 108). By way of another example, the work tool attachment maybe positioned along three axes (e.g., along the x-, y-, and z-axes).

In another embodiment, the arms 604 are coupled to an attachment coupleror end effector 606. For example, the attachment coupler 606 may includea bearing assembly to which a work tool attachment couples, where thework tool attachment includes an electric motor. In this regard, thework tool attachments coupled to the one or more work tool assemblies114 are configured to rotate around an axis (e.g., the z-axis). By wayof another example, the attachment coupler 606 is a component of anelectric motor to which the work tool attachment couples including, butnot limited to, a motor shaft or a mount plate coupled to a motor shaft.

It is noted herein the field engagement unit 102 is configured to takeone or more measurements of the one or more control system components ofthe one or more actuatable arms 604 of the one or more chassis 602. Forexample, the one or more measurements may include, but are not limitedto, linear position of electric actuators 605 a, rotary position of theelectric actuators 605 a and connected electrically-actuated joints 605b, voltage of electric actuators 605 b, and amperage of electricactuators and motors 605 a. By way of another example, the one or moremeasurements may include, but are not limited to, linear position ofhydraulic lift cylinders, rotary position of hydraulic lift cylindersand connected hydraulically-actuated joints, and pressure of hydrauliclift cylinders and motors. By way of another example, the one or moremeasurements may include data for any pneumatically-actuated componentsof the chassis 602 a and 602 b. It is further noted herein the one ormore chassis 602 may include any mechanical system components necessaryto mechanically control the one or more actuatable arms 604. It isfurther noted herein the field engagement unit 102 is configured to takeone or more measurements of an electric motor at the attachment coupler606. For example, the one or more measurements include, but are notlimited to, rotary position of the motor, voltage of the motor, andamperage of the motor. It is noted the actuators/motors 605 a and joints605 b are illustrated in FIG. 6D. It is further noted herein theactuators/motors 605 a may be hydraulically-powered,pneumatically-powered, or mechanically-powered.

In another embodiment, the chassis 602 a and 602 b are coupled to acarrier 608 a or 608 b, respectively. In another embodiment, thecarriers 608 a or 608 b include one or more rollers 609. For example,the rollers 609 are actuated. In another embodiment, the carriers 608 aor 608 b include one or more conductor bars 610. For example, theconductor bars 610 may be a single conducting component. By way ofanother example, the conductor bars 610 may include one or moreconducting plates attached to a conducting block (e.g. see FIG. 15D).

In another embodiment, the conductor bars 610 of a carrier 608 a or 608b are configured to collect power to the other components of the worktool assembly 114, the power transferred from one or more power sourcesthrough the work tool rail assembly 108. For example, the conductor bars610 may be configured to provide power to the one or more work toolassemblies 114 coupled to the carrier for operation of the one or morework tool attachments. In another embodiment, as discussed furtherherein, the conductor bars 610 of a carrier 608 a or 608 b areconfigured to transfer power to the other components on the fieldengagement unit 102, the power transferred to the other components onthe field engagement unit 102 by the work tool rail assembly 108. Forexample, the conductor bars 610 may be configured to provide powergenerated by one or more power sources in one or more cradles coupled tothe carrier.

It is noted the field engagement units 102 may be configured to take oneor more measurements of the one or more control system componentsnecessary to determine position of the one or more work tool assemblies114 on the work tool rail assembly 108. For example, the one or moremeasurements may include, but are not limited to, one or moremeasurements from one or more linear readers along the work tool railsof the work tool rails assembly 114.

In another embodiment, the chassis 602 b includes a motor 612. Inanother embodiment, the motor powers the single-drive wheel between theconducting plates, to provide propulsion along the work tool railassembly 108. In this regard, actuation of the motor 612 moves the oneor more work tool assemblies 114 along the work tool rail assembly 108.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6F, the work tool chassis602 b includes a material storage container 120. In another embodiment,function of the material storage container 120 depends on the functionof the respective work tool. The material storage container 120 isdescribed in detail further herein.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6G, the work tool assembly114 includes a chassis 602 c. In another embodiment, either of thecarriers 608 a or 608 b may be coupled to the chassis 602 c. In anotherembodiment, the chassis 602 c includes one or more actuatable arms 604.For example, the arms 604 include one or more arm sections 604 a. By wayof another example, the arms 604 include one or more hinges 604 b. Byway of another example, the hinges 604 b couple together one or more armsections 604 a. In another embodiment, the chassis 602 c is coupled to awork tool attachment.

It is noted herein that although embodiments of the present disclosureare directed to chassis 602 a and 602 b and carriers 608 a and 608 bbeing coupled together respectively, that any combination of the chassisand carriers are possible. Therefore, the above embodiments should notbe interpreted as a limitation on the present invention but merely aninterpretation.

It is further noted herein that although embodiments of the presentdisclosure are directed to a work tool assembly 114 having carrier,chassis, and attachment components, that one or more components may bemissing. For example, the work tool attachments may be coupled directlyto the carrier.

In one example, the orientation of the work tool attachment in a worktool assembly 114 may be adjusted. In this example, the local controller130 may receive one or more sets of information such as orientation ofthe work tool attachment relative to the x-y-z axes of the fieldengagement unit 102 from the work tool assembly 114. The localcontroller 130 may then determine what response is necessary based onthe one or more sets of information (e.g. alter one or more of the x-y-zaxes positions of the work tool assembly 114 to reach a desiredorientation). The local controller 130 may then transmit the response tothe work tool assembly 114.

It is noted herein the work tool attachments of the work tool assembly114 may include attachments 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1020, 1040, 1100, 1120,1140, 1200, 1300, or any other attachment of the present disclosure.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7D, the one or more worktool assemblies 114 include one or more plant phenotyping attachments700. For example, the attachment 700 may be a plant phenotypingattachment. By way of another example, the attachment 700 may be ananimal phenotyping attachment. In another embodiment, the phenotypingattachment 700 mechanically couples to the chassis 602 via a mount plate702. For example, the plant phenotyping attachment 700 may be coupled tothe attachment coupler 606 of the chassis 602 via the mount plate 702.For instance, the mount plate 702 may couple to the attachment coupler606 in such a way so as to prevent rotation of the plant phenotypingattachment 700 about the z-axis. By way of another example, the mountplate 702 may couple to the attachment coupler 606 in such a way so asto allow rotation of the plant phenotyping attachment 700 about thez-axis, the z-axis illustrated in FIGS. 6B and 6E.

In another embodiment, the plant phenotyping attachment 700 includes oneor more agronomy imaging attachments 704. In another embodiment, the oneor more agronomy imaging attachments 704 includes one or more visionsystems 706. For example, the one or more vision systems 706 mayinclude, but are not limited to, visible light, hyperspectral, thermal,color-sensing, or distance-sensing vision systems. In anotherembodiment, the one or more vision systems 706 are configured to observea set range of vision. For instance, the one or more vision systems 706may be configured to observe a spherical 360-degree range.Alternatively, the one or more vision systems 706 may be configured toobserve a hemispherical, 180-degree range. Phenotyping measurement andselection is described generally in U.S. Patent Publication No.2015/0015697, published on Jan. 15, 2015, which is incorporated hereinby reference in the entirety.

In another embodiment, the one or more vision systems 706 are configuredto automatically capture one or more images of one or more crops. Forexample, the images may be used independently. By way of anotherexample, the images be stitched together to form a multi-dimensionalview of a field. In this regard, an otherwise unreviewable field due tothe nature of the field and/or the surrounding environment may allow fora remote walkthrough of the field by a user. In another embodiment, thecaptured one or more images of the one or more crops include one or morecrop features. For example, the one or one crop features captured in theone or more images may include, but are not limited to, crop color forthe purpose of proactively applying nutrients; pest locations for thepurpose of identifying the pest and proactively applying insecticides;fungus locations for the purpose of identifying the fungus andproactively applying fungicides; and weeds for the purpose ofidentifying the weed and proactively guiding a mechanical weeding and/orherbicide-spraying attachment. By way of another example, the capturedone or more images of the one or more crops include one or more imagesof harvest product through the unharvested crop canopy for the purposeof predicting crop yield on a nearly real-time basis. It is noted thecaptured one or more images may be processed in conjunction withspecific GPS information to generate variable rate maps for one or moreof fertilizer, herbicide, fungicide, insecticide, and irrigationapplication.

It is noted herein the plant phenotyping attachment 700 has the uniqueability to be lowered underneath a crop's canopy for the purpose ofobtaining images and/or data that may be used to remotely monitor thefield for emerging problems with the crop (e.g. weeds, insectinfestations, fungus that can damage crops). Additionally, it is notedherein the plant phenotyping attachment 700 may be used to remotelymonitor for the crops' maturity (e.g. comparing plants' size, shape,seeds, root structure, color, etc. to those ideal characteristics thatcould be exhibited in ideal laboratory conditions).

It is further noted herein the phenotyping attachment 700 has theability to employ artificial light, in the form of halogen,incandescent, LED, or other light sources, in order to be used in bothnight and day applications. In the case of day applications, theartificial light can be used to eliminate shadows, while also allowingthe unit to be used underneath the crop canopy. In another embodiment,the agronomy imaging tool 704 is coupled to the mount plate 702 via ashaft 708. For example, the shaft 708 may be of a fixed length. By wayof another example, the shaft 708 may include one or more extendableand/or retractable portions.

In another embodiment, the plant phenotyping attachment 700 includes oneor more cleaning assemblies 710. In another embodiment, the one or morecleaning assemblies 710 are separate components from the agronomyimaging attachment 704. For example, the one or more cleaning assemblies710 may be configured to clean the one or more vision systems 706. Forinstance, the one or more vision systems 706 may be configured to rotatein front of a fixed one or more cleaning assemblies 710. Alternatively,the one or more cleaning assemblies 710 may be configured to rotatearound a fixed one or more vision systems 706. In another embodiment,the one or more cleaning assemblies 710 are coupled to the agronomyimaging attachment 704. In this embodiment, the agronomy imaging tool isself-cleaning.

In another embodiment, the plant phenotyping attachment 700 includes oneor more additional phenotyping devices 714, 716, and 718. For example,the one or more additional phenotyping devices 714, 716, and 718 areconfigured to gather valuable agronomic data including, but not limitedto, NDVI readings (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), VNIRreadings (Visible and Near Infrared), IR readings (Infrared), VISreadings (Visible Intensity Spectrum), PSII readings (Photosystem II, orwater-plastoquinone oxidoreductase), laser and/or radar height scanningreadings for determining the height of a plant, crop, or measuring theposition of ground relative to the work tool and/or platform, CO2readings, thermal readings, hyperspectral readings. It is noted NDVI isa graphical indicator that can be used to analyze remote sensingmeasurements for the purpose of determining if the target contains livegreen vegetation). It is further noted Photosystem II (orwater-plastoquinone oxidoreductase) is the first protein complex in thelight-dependent reactions of oxygenic photosynthesis, which is locatedin the thylakoid membrane of plants, algae, and cyanobacteria). It isfurther noted hyperspectral readings are often used to obtain thespectrum for each pixel in an image, for the purpose of finding objects,identifying materials, or detecting processes.

In another embodiment, the one or more additional phenotyping devices714, 716, and 718 are coupled directly to the mount plate 702. Inanother embodiment, the one or more additional phenotyping devices 714,716, and 718 are coupled to the mount plate 702 via a shaft. Forexample, the shaft may be of a fixed length. By way of another example,the shaft may include one or more extendable and/or retractableportions.

In one embodiment, the one or more work tools may continually acquirescans of a given field throughout the growing season. In anotherembodiment, the scans are able to be frequently and with a precisiondown to the plant level, to proactively impact plant yields in that samegrowing season. It is noted here that the collected sets of informationcan be viewed in a number of ways. For example, the collected sets ofinformation may be received and remotely viewed by a user. For instance,the user remotely viewing the sets of information may analyze the setsof information, determine one or more actions, and transmit the one ormore actions to the one or more components of the field engagement unit102. By way of another example, the collected data may be processedon-board by each field engagement unit 102. By way of another example,the collected data may be processed in the cloud and determinedresponses transmitted to each field engagement unit 102 forimplementation of pre-programmed instructions.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8E, the one or more worktool assemblies 114 include one or more weeding attachments 800. In oneembodiment, the weeding attachment 800 mechanically couples to thechassis 602 via the attachment coupler 606. In another embodiment, theweeding attachment 800 includes a motor 802.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8C, the weedingattachment 800 includes a ground-engaging portion 804. For example, theground-engaging portion 804 may include one or more tines. For instance,the one or more tines may either be curved or straight. Additionally,the one or more tines may be fixed or configured to be independentlyactuatable (e.g., have one or more joints). In another embodiment, theground-engaging portion 804 is coupled directly to the motor 802. Inanother embodiment, the ground-engaging portion 804 is coupled to themotor 802 via a shaft 806. For example, the shaft 806 may be of a fixedlength. By way of another example, the shaft 806 may include one or moreextendable and/or retractable portions.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8D, the field engagementunit 102 is configured to implement one or more work tool assemblies 114with a weeding attachment 800 for a number of tilling and cultivationprocesses. For example, the field engagement unit 102 may be configuredto implement the weeding attachment 800 to prepare seed beds prior toseed planting. By way of another example, the field engagement unit 102may be configured to implement the weeding attachment 800 to removemultiple weeds in a tilling motion, where at least a portion of thefield can be tilled. By way of another example, the field engagementunit 102 may be configured to implement the weeding attachment 800 toremove singled-out weeds in a targeted pick-and-pull motion. Forinstance, the field engagement unit 102 may be configured to observe oneor more weeds via the one or more plant phenotyping attachments 700.Additionally, the field engagement unit 102 may be configured to directthe weeding attachment 800 to remove the observed one or more weeds. Byway of another example, the field engagement unit 102 may be configuredto implement the weeding attachment 800 to remove excess plants, whetherintentionally overplanted (e.g., lettuce plants and seed corn) oraccidentally (e.g. spilled seed product) planted.

It is further noted herein the weeding attachment 800 is capable ofrotating opposite the initially-traveled rotation direction to expelmaterial that may be lodged between the one or more tines of aground-engaging portion 804.

Although the above embodiments illustrate the weeding attachment 800with a claw-like device, it is noted the weeding attachment 800 mayremove weeds via alternate methods. In one embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 8D, the weeding attachment 800 is a spade 808 on a shaft 810. Forexample, the spade is deployed and pulled while underground to cut offweed roots. In another embodiment, the weeding attachment 800 includesone or more components necessary to implement high-pressure water. Inanother embodiment, the weeding attachment 800 includes one or morecomponents necessary to implement steam.

In another embodiment, the weeding attachment 800 is configured to applya foam barrier impenetrable to weed growth. For example, the weedingattachment 800 may be configured to apply the foam barrier by applyingan impenetrable layer of weed foam to the top of the ground, where theartificial layer of weed foam is impenetrable by weeds but may beinfiltrated by water. For instance, the artificial layer ofweed-resistant foam may be an organic substance including, but notlimited to, a starch and/or protein-based organic foam product.Additionally, the foam product may be mixed with water, eitherbeforehand or at the time of application. By way of another example, theartificial layer of weed-resistant foam is able to break down and beabsorbed into the soil over a period of time. It is noted the foambarrier remains intact long enough to ensure the planted crop is able toprovide canopy protection against weeds by minimizing levels ofsunlight.

In another embodiment, the weeding attachment 800 is configured to sprayherbicide or fungicide to remove weeds. For example, the weedingattachment may be configured to apply herbicide or fungicide to theweeds in a targeted manner. For instance, the field engagement unit 102may be configured to observe one or more locations in the field ashaving one or more weeds via the one or more plant phenotypingattachments 700. Additionally, the field engagement unit 102 may beconfigured to direct the weeding attachment 800 to apply herbicide orfungicide to the one or more locations having one or more weeds.Further, the application of herbicide, fungicide, or insecticide may beapplied using one or more than one work tools or via a bar with a seriesof nozzles. In the case of the bar with nozzles, it is possible toutilize segments for which a valve can turn the bar segment on or offtogether. Further, each nozzle may include with a valve to turn it on oroff depending on the feedback from the one or more phenotypingattachments 700. In this regard, continuous and real-time spraying mayoccur without the need for broadcast application of herbicides andfungicide. It is noted herein the above embodiment may be implemented inthe application of pesticides.

In another embodiment, the weeding attachment 800 is configured toremove weeds via laser beams, flames, or concentrated solar beams.

In another embodiment, one or more of herbicide, fungicide, or pesticideis stored on the one tool 114 with weeding attachment 800 in a materialstorage container 120.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the one or morework tool assemblies 114 include one or more nutrient applicationattachments 900. In one embodiment, the nutrient application attachment900 is coupled to the chassis 602 a. For example, the nutrientapplication attachment 900 is coupled to the chassis 602 a via theattachment coupler 606. In another embodiment, the nutrient applicationattachment 900 includes a nutrient applicator 902. For example, thenutrient applicator 902 may be an injection nozzle for in-groundapplications. By way of another example, the nutrient applicator 902 maybe a narrow-width spray nozzle for directed applications. By way ofanother example, the nutrient applicator 902 may be a wide-mouth spraynozzle for broadcast or variable-rate applications. In anotherembodiment, the nutrient application attachment 900 includes a shaft 904coupled to the nutrient applicator 902. For example, the shaft 904 maybe of a fixed length. By way of another example, the shaft 904 mayinclude one or more extendable and/or retractable portions. In anotherembodiment, the shaft 904 is coupled to the nutrient applicator 904 viaan actuatable joint 904 a.

In another embodiment, the nutrient application attachment 900 isconfigured to apply plant-specific macro nutrients (e.g., N, P, K, andtrace materials such as B and Zn) to the soil based on the determinedrequirements of the soil. For example, potassium (K) is utilized toassist in the movement of water, carbohydrates, and nutrients in croptissue. In another embodiment, the nutrient application attachment 900is configured to apply plant-specific micro nutrients (e.g., Zn, S, andCu) to the soil. In another embodiment, the nutrient applicationattachment 900 is configured to apply dry nutrient compounds including,but not limited to, lime and potash. For example, lime is utilized toincrease soil pH. By way of another example, potash is utilized tostimulate early growth, increase protein production, improve theefficiency of water use, improve alfalfa growth, and increase cropresistance to disease and insects. In another embodiment, the nutrientapplication attachment 900 is configured to apply water to the soil. Inanother embodiment, the nutrient application attachment 900 isconfigured to apply fertilizer to the soil. For example, the nutrientapplication attachment 900 may apply liquid fertilizer to the soil. Byway of another example, the nutrient application attachment 900 mayapply dry fertilizer to the soil.

In one example, the nutrient application attachment 900 is configured toapply fertilizer and/or nutrients to the soil in targeted locations. Inthis example, the local controller 130 may receive one or more sets ofinformation such as, but not limited to, one or more images and/or anoperational parameter (e.g. one or more soil core/measurement tests,discussed in detail further herein from a work tool with a soil coringand measurement attachment 1040). The local controller 130 may thendetermine what response is necessary based on the one or more sets ofinformation (e.g. apply nutrients in an increased amount to the specificproblem sites). The local controller 130 may then transmit the responseto nutrient application attachment 900 to apply nutrients and/orfertilizer to the one or more deficient locations. In this regard,continuous and real-time application of nutrients and/or fertilizer mayoccur without the need for broadcast application of nutrients and/orfertilizer. For instance, applying nutrients to targeted locations mayminimize input costs, minimize nutrient run-off, and minimize leachingthrough a respective soil type.

In another embodiment, one or more of nutrients, fertilizer, or water isstored on the one tool 114 with nutrient application attachment 900 in amaterial storage container 120.

It is further noted herein the nutrient application attachment 900 maybe re-purposed as a high-pressure water sprayer. In this regard, thenutrient application attachment 900 may be implemented to remove weeds.

It is noted herein the nutrient applicator attachment 900 may applynutrients based on one or more sets of information that have beenmeasured using soil coring attachment(s) 1000 and/or soil measurementattachment(s) 1020, described in detail further herein. For example, thenutrient applicator attachment 900 may be provided with a different mixof nutrients based on the analyzed soil condition when applyingnutrients. It is further noted herein the nutrient applicator attachment900 may be controlled so as to apply nutrients simultaneously withadjacent work tool assemblies 114 including nutrient applicatorattachments 900, mechanical weeding attachments 800, and phenotypingscanning attachments 700. It is further noted the nutrient applicatorattachment 900 may be controlled so as to apply different nutrient mixesin consecutive applications with the same work tool assembly 114. Forexample, the nutrient applicator attachment 900 may apply mix A, thenmix B, then mix A in consecutive order. By way of another example, anycombination, order, or number when applying nutrient mixes is possible.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10H, the one or more worktool assemblies 114 include one or more attachments for soil coring andsoil nutrient measurement. In one embodiment, the one or moreattachments for soil coring and nutrient measurement collect samples forlater processing by an off-site laboratory or mobile field laboratory.For example, the attachments for soil coring and soil nutrientmeasurement may store a collected sample within the tool (e.g. asingle-capacity chamber). By way of another example, the attachments forsoil coring and soil nutrient measurement may store collected sampleswithin the material storage container 120 coupled to the work toolchassis 602 b. By way of another example, the attachments for soilcoring and soil nutrient measurement may store the collected sampleswithin the material storage containers 120 in the support frame 106, orwithin the material storage containers 120 coupled to the one or moresupport structures 110. In another embodiment, the attachments for soilcoring and nutrient measurement collects one or more samples andanalyzes them onboard the work tool assembly 114 (or the fieldengagement unit 102).

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10C, the work toolassemblies 114 include a soil coring attachment 1000. In anotherembodiment, the soil coring attachment 1000 is coupled to the work toolchassis 602 via a mount plate 1002. For example, the soil coringattachment 1000 may be coupled to the attachment coupler 606 of the worktool chassis 602 via the mount plate 1002.

In another embodiment, the soil coring attachment 1000 includes asoil-sampling port 1004 at one end of a first cylinder 1006. Forexample, the first cylinder 1006 may be of a fixed length. By way ofanother example, the cylinder 1006 may include one or more extendableand/or retractable portions. In another embodiment, the soil coringattachment 1000 includes a second cylinder 1008. For example, thecylinder 1006 may include one or more extendable and/or retractableportions By way of another example, the first cylinder 1006 may be of afixed length. However, it is noted this would require the supportassembly 104 to raise or lower to have the soil coring attachment 1000make contact with the ground.

In another embodiment, the first cylinder 1006 is configured to causethe sampling port 1004 to penetrate the soil and capture a soil core.For example, cylinder 1008 may extend to open the sampling port 1004.Cylinder 1006 may then extend to cause the sampling port 1004 topenetrate the soil. Cylinder 1006 may then retract to remove the coresample within the cylinder 1008 to be analyzed.

In another embodiment, the second cylinder 1008 is configured to causethe sampling port 1004 to eject the captured soil core. For example, thecaptured soil core may be ejected into a material storage container 120separate from or coupled to the field engagement unit 102 for lateranalysis. By way of another example, the captured soil core may beejected back into the field after the soil core is analyzed onboard thework tool assembly 114 (or the field engagement unit 102). For instance,the captured soil core may be analyzed for values including, but notlimited to, soil type, soil texture, compaction amount plate, organicmatter content, and nutrient constituents (e.g., N, P, and K).

It is noted herein the field engagement unit 102 is configured to takeone or more measurements of one or more operational parameters of one ormore control system components implemented to control one or more of thefirst cylinder 1006 or the second cylinder 1008, including one or moreelectrical control system components, one or more hydraulic systemcomponents, one or more pneumatic system components, or one or moremechanical control system components.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 10D-10F, the work toolassemblies 114 include a soil measurement attachment 1020. In anotherembodiment, the soil measurement attachment 1020 is coupled to the worktool chassis 602 via a mount plate 1022. For example, the soilmeasurement attachment 1020 may be coupled to the attachment coupler 606of the work tool chassis 602 via the mount plate 1022.

In another embodiment, the soil coring attachment 1000 includes a soilprobe 1024 at one end of a cylinder 1026. For example, the cylinder 1026may include one or more extendable and/or retractable portions. By wayof another example, the first cylinder 1026 may be of a fixed length.However, it is noted this would require the support assembly 104 toraise or lower to have the soil coring attachment 1020 make contact withthe ground.

In another embodiment, the cylinder 1026 is configured to cause the soilprobe 1024 to penetrate the soil. In another embodiment, the soil probe1026 is configured to measure the soil for one or more values. Forexample, the soil probe 1024 may be configured to measure for one ormore values including, but not limited to, soil moisture at one depth,soil moisture at additional depths, soil constituents at one or moremultiple depths (e.g., nutrients and organic matter content), or soilsalinity at one or multiple depths (e.g., pH levels).

It is noted herein the field engagement unit 102 is configured to takeone or more measurements of one or more operational parameters of one ormore control system components implemented to control one or more of thecylinder 1026, including one or electrical control system components,one or more hydraulic system components, one or more pneumatic systemcomponents, or one or more mechanical control system components. In oneembodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 10G and 10H, the one or more worktool assemblies 114 include a combination soil coring and soilmeasurement attachment 1040. In another embodiment, the combination soilcoring and soil measurement attachment 1040 is coupled to the work toolchassis 602 via a mount plate 1042. For example, the combination soilcoring and soil measurement attachment 1040 may be coupled to theattachment coupler 606 of the work tool chassis 602 via the mount plate1042.

In another embodiment, the combination soil coring and soil measurementattachment 1040 includes one or more soil coring attachments 1000. Inanother embodiment, the combination soil coring and soil measurementattachment 1040 includes one or more soil measurement attachments 1020.It is noted herein that either the soil coring attachment 1000 and/orthe soil measurement attachment 1020 may be implemented to measure soilcompaction as a measurement of force required to push the soil coringattachment 1000 and/or the soil measurement attachment 1020 into thesoil.

It is noted herein the cleaning components of the plant phenotypingattachment 700 may be extended to the soil coring attachment 1000 and/orthe soil measurement attachment 1020. For example, the soil coringattachment 1000 may include a cleaning function to remove stuck soilinside the cylinder 1008 including, but not limited to, water or air. Byway of another example, the soil measurement attachment 1020 may includea cleaning function to remove stuck soil from the soil probe 1024including, but not limited to, water or air. It is further noted hereinone or more cleaning components may be coupled to the combinationattachment 1040.

In one example, the soil may be measured for any nutrient deficiencies.In this example, the local controller 130 may receive one or more setsof information such as, but not limited to, identification and amount ofsoil constituents, a measured soil type, a measured soil texture, anamount of soil plate compaction, an amount of organic matter content inthe soil, an amount of soil EC (electro-conductivity), and the like fromthe soil coring attachment 1000 and/or the soil measurement attachment1020. The local controller 130 may then determine what response isnecessary based on the one or more sets of information (e.g. applynutrients, apply variable rate irrigation, or deep till to break upcompaction to the soil and the test point). The local controller 130 maythen transmit responses including, but not limited to, a re-positioningresponse to a work tool assembly 114 including a nutrient applicator 900and any other work tool assemblies 114 positioned between the nutrientapplicator 900 and the test spot requiring nutrients, and a change inoperational condition (e.g., turn on, run program) to the work toolassembly 114 including the nutrient applicator 900.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, the one or more worktool assemblies 114 include one or more planting attachments. In anotherembodiment, the one or more planting attachments are configured toincorporate a series of planting attachments that may plant more thanone seed per planting operation. In another embodiment, the one or moreplanting attachments are configured to incorporate a single row ofsingle seed planting attachments. In another embodiment, the one or moreplanting attachments are configured to incorporate several single seedplanting attachments that may plant multiple seeds in a single operationincluding, but not limited to, in a single row. For example, severalsingle seeding planting attachments would allow the field engagementunit 102 to be configured to harvest a single row of one crop whileleaving an interspersed crop or variety in the field for laterharvesting. By way of another example, the single seed plantingattachment would allow the field engagement unit 102 to be configured toplant a cover crop before a previous crop is harvested.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11C, the work toolassemblies 114 include a single seed attachment 1100 for per-plant cropplanting. For example, incorporating a single seed attachment 1100 wouldallow the field engagement unit 102 to be configured to plant one ormore seeds with one or more nutrients (e.g., water, N, P, and/or K,trace nutrients, fungicide, or insecticide) necessary to spur plantgrowth. It is noted herein the single seed attachment 1100 may beconfigured to take into account environmental data including, but notlimited to, rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, soil moisture,available nutrients (even down to the per plant level), soil type, fieldelevation, latitude, seed hybrid, growing degree units, temperature, andultraviolet radiation at every seed location in the field. By way ofanother example, incorporating a single planting attachment would allowthe field engagement unit 102 to be configured to re-plant one or morereplacement crops in the case of a failed initial planting caused by oneor more of standing water, poor seed emergence, adverse weather, etc.

In another embodiment, the single seed attachment 1100 is coupled to thechassis 602 b via the attachment coupler 606. In another embodiment, thesingle seed attachment 1100 includes a seed manager 1102. In anotherembodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, the seed manager 1102 includes asingulator 1150. In another embodiment, the singulator 1150 separates asingle seed from the multiple seeds received by the single seedattachment 1100 from an onboard or detached material storage container120. For example, the material storage container 120 may be coupled tothe chassis 602 b above the single seed attachment 1100. By way ofanother example, the material storage container 120 may be coupled tothe support frame 106. By way of another example, the material storagecontainer 120 may be coupled to the support assembly 104, providingseeds via the manifold assembly 122. In another embodiment, the seedmanager 1102 includes an orienter 1152. In another embodiment, theorienter 1152 orients the single seed to a desired orientation beforethe seed is planted to maximize seed emergence and to optimize plantleaves' orientations with the goal for the field's plants to be able toobtain a high amount of sunlight. In another embodiment, the seedmanager 1102 and/or the orienter 1152 are communicatively coupled to thework tool controller 160.

Although embodiments of the present disclosure illustrate the singulator1150 and the orienter 1152 on the same single seed attachment 1100, itis noted herein one or both of the singulator 1150 or the orienter 1152may be detached (or coupled separately from) the single seed attachment1100.

In another embodiment, the single seed attachment 1100 includes a soilpenetrator 1104. It is noted herein the soil penetrator 1104 may be partof, or a separate component from, the singulator 1150 or the orienter1152 of the seed manager 1102.

The benefits of controlling of corn kernel orientation during plantingis described by Adrian A. Koller in “DESIGN, PERFORMANCE PREDICTION ANDVALIDATION OF A SEED ORIENTING CORN PLANTER,” Ph.D. Dissertation,Oklahoma State University, May 2013, which is incorporated herein byreference in the entirety.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1C, the single seedattachment 1100 plants single seeds at a defined spacing 1166 and/or1168, or at a spacing relative to already planted seeds, via movement ofthe chassis 602 a or 602 b. For instance, the defined spacing at whichseeds are planted by the single seed attachment 1100 may be fixed.Alternatively, the field engagement unit 102 may be configured to adjustthe defined spacing at which seeds are planted by the single seedattachment 1100 to take into account possible obstructions, soil types,nutrient availability, and the like. In another embodiment, the singleseed attachment 1100 may plant seeds in a defined orientation as set bythe orienter 1152. For example, corn kernels may be oriented with thehull pointed downward into the soil when planted.

It is noted herein the single seed attachment 1100 may be configured toincorporate any additional components necessary to be configured toperform at least one step including, but not limited to, removingbiomass from the top of the soil, opening the soil, placing a seed at aproper depth for the seed, adequately compressing the soil around theseed, applying one or more nutrients (i.e. fertilizer) and applyingirrigation water next to each seed, and closing the soil.

It is further noted herein the single seed attachment 1100 may plantseeds based on one or more sets of information from the soil coringattachment 1000 and/or soil measurement attachment 1020. For example,the single seed attachment 1100 may change seed type between plantingsbased on the soil condition as analyzed by the local controller 130 fromthe one or more sets of information taken by the soil coring attachment1000 and/or soil measurement attachment 1020. By way of another example,the single seed attachment 1100 may add or remove a determined amount ofnutrients, fertilizer, and/or water based on the analyzed soil conditionwhen injecting the seed location during the planting of the seed. Inthis example, the soil coring operation may have taken place at or priorto the time the seed planting operation takes place.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 11D, the one or more work toolassemblies 114 include one or more planting array attachments 1120. Inanother embodiment, the planting array attachment 1120 is coupled to thework tool chassis 602 via a mount plate 1122. For example, the plantingarray attachment 1120 may be coupled to the attachment coupler 606 ofthe work tool chassis 602 via the mount plate 1122. In anotherembodiment, the planting array attachment 1120 includes a plantingattachment base 1124. In another embodiment, the planting attachmentbase 1124 is supported by one or more base cross-members. It is notedherein, however, that the planting attachment base 1124 is not arequired component of the planting array attachment 1120.

In another embodiment, the planting attachment base is configured toincorporate one or more single seed planting attachments 1100 in a setarrangement. For example, the planting attachment base 1124 may beconfigured to incorporate a single row of single seed plantingattachments 1100. By way of another example, the planting attachmentbase 1124 may be configured to incorporate multiple rows of single seedplanting attachments 1100. It is noted herein the single or multiplerows of single seed planting attachments 1100 may include the ability tochange row spacing on-the-go via control from the local controller 130using processed data including, but not limited to, soil type, soilnutrients levels, soil topography, soil compaction level (e.g. fieldroad), and availability of sunlight (e.g. trees overshadowing a portionof a field).

In another embodiment, the single seed planting attachments 1100 arecoupled to the planting attachment base 1124 by a defined spacing. Forinstance, the defined spacing for the single seed planting attachments1100 in the planting attachment base 1124 may be fixed. Alternatively,the field engagement unit 102 may be configured to adjust the definedspacing for the single seed planting attachments 1100 to take intoaccount possible obstructions including rocks, irrigation wells,electric power poles, oil wells, natural gas lines, and the like.

Although embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to aline-based planting array attachment 1120, it is noted herein theplanting array attachment 1120 may be arranged so as to plant in astaggered, offset, or random spacing. It is further noted herein theplanting array attachment includes a defined spacing, where the definedspacing is adjustable.

In another embodiment, the planting array attachment 1120 feeds thecoupled single seed planting attachments 1100 in an input/output fashion(i.e. a seed is planted before the next seed is loaded into the plantingchamber. In another embodiment, the planting array attachment 1120instead implements an assembly with a series of single seed plantingattachments 1100, where the attachments 1100 are placed into position,activated to plant a seed, removed from position, and re-loaded with aseed while another single seed planting attachment 1100 is plantingbefore re-starting the cycle. In this regard, the downtime of having toprepare a seed in the single seed planting attachment 1100 may beminimized.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 11E-11H, the one or more worktool assemblies 114 include one or more row unit planting attachments1140. In another embodiment, the row unit planting attachment 1140includes a chassis 1141. In another embodiment, the chassis 1141 iscoupled to the work tool carrier 608 a or 608 b via a mount plate 1142.

In another embodiment, the row unit planting attachment 1140 includesone or more disc units 1144 cutting a furrow in the soil. In anotherembodiment, the disc units 1144 are configured to plant one or more rowssimultaneously. For example, disc units 1144 may be configured to plantone or more rows at a time in a defined row spacing. For instance, thedefined spacing for the one or more disc units 1144 may be fixed via aseed singulation wheel. Alternatively, the field engagement unit 102 maybe configured to adjust the defined row spacing for the one or more discunits 1144.

In another embodiment, the row unit planting attachment 1140 includesone or more tilling wheels 1146. For example, the one or more tillingwheels 1146 may be configured to overturn the ground prior to the one ormore disc units 1144 planting the seeds, including the instance whereseeds are planted into existing biomass laying on top of the ground. Inanother embodiment, the row unit planting attachment 1140 includes oneor more packing or gauge wheels 1148 to firm the sides of the seedtrench tilled by the tilling wheels 1146. For example, the packingwheels 1148 may be actuated by an electric actuator, hydraulic cylinder,pneumatic cylinder, or ground-powered mechanism. By way of anotherexample, the packing wheels 1148 may be configured to either supplementor replace the propulsion provided to the row unit planting attachment1140 by the chassis 602. For instance, the packing wheels 1148 mayeither be configured to supplement or replace the propulsion provided tothe row unit planting attachment 1140 by the motor 612 of the chassis602 b. In another embodiment, the speed with which the one or morepacking wheels 1148 are actuated determines the spacing of the row ofseeds being planted. In another embodiment, the row planting unit 1140includes one or more press or closing wheels 1150 to cover the seedtrench with soil.

In another embodiment, the row planting unit attachment 1140 is coupledto the material storage containers 120. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 11I, the row planting unit attachment 1140 may be coupled to amaterial storage container 120 housed within the support frame 106. Byway of another example, seed product is transported pneumatically fromone or more material storage containers 120 to the row unit plantingattachments 1140 through the manifold assembly 122. It is noted hereinit is possible to rotate the row planting unit attachment 1140 throughthe use of a rotating assembly shown with two mating platforms up to orbeyond 360 degrees, depending on how seed is transported to the worktool assembly 114 including the row planting unit attachment 1140.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 11I-11L, the fieldengagement unit 102 is configured to implement one or more work toolassemblies 114 with row unit planting attachments 1140 to plant one ormore rows simultaneously. For example, the field engagement unit 102 maybe configured to implement two work tool assemblies 114 with row unitplanting attachments 1140 to plant one or more at a time. In thisexample, the work tool assemblies 114 with row unit planting attachment1140 are positioned at opposite ends of respective gantry facing eachother while the field engagement unit 102 is raised. Next, the fieldengagement unit 102 lowers to allow the work tool assemblies 114 withrow unit planting attachment 1140 to engage the ground. Each of the worktool assembly 114 with row unit planting attachment 1140 propels itselfalong its work tool rail 108 traveling toward or away from each otheruntil it gets to the end of its work tool rail 108. During the time thateach work tool assembly 114 with row unit planting attachment 1140 arebeing pulled through the ground, seeds are dropped into the ground at adesired spacing, the spacing determined via the singulation wheel in therespective row unit planting attachment 1140.

Once the work tool assemblies 114 with row unit planting attachment 1140have traversed the length of the work tool rail 108, the fieldengagement unit 102 raises up and moves forward or backward to the nextnumber of rows to be planted. The field engagement unit 102 rotates eachwork tool assembly 114 with row unit planting attachment 1140 180degrees, and lowers the support structure to allow each work toolassembly 114 to return each row unit planting attachment 1140 toplanting position in order to engage the ground for the next plantingpass. It is noted herein the field engagement unit 102 may repeat thisprocess across each field to be planted until the field is fullyplanted. It is further noted herein that the field engagement unit 102may be capable of lowering its work tool assemblies 114 with row unitplanting attachment 1140 only for the areas and sections in the fieldthat need to be replanted, should only a partial row be planted.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 12A-12C, the one or more worktool assemblies 114 includes one or more detasseling attachments 1200.In one embodiment, the detasseling attachment 1200 mechanically couplesto the chassis 602 a via a mount plate 1202. For example, thedetasseling attachment 1200 may be coupled to the attachment coupler 606of the chassis 602 a via the mount plate 1202. For instance, the mountplate 1202 may couple to the attachment coupler 606 in such as a way soas to prevent rotation of the detasseling attachment 1200 about thez-axis. By way of another example, the mount plate 1202 may couple tothe attachment coupler 606 in such a way so as to allow rotation of thedetasseling attachment 1200 about the z-axis. For instance, rotationwould allow for adjustments to the direction of field rows or to be ableto adjust the entrance direction of a plant (e.g., corn stalk 1210) tothe leading portion of a set of stripping wheels 1206.

In another embodiment, the detasseling attachment 1200 includes andrivetrain housing 1204. For example, the drivetrain housing 1204 mayinclude one or more motors, gears, chains, or belts. By way of anotherexample, the drivetrain housing 1204 may include electric-powered,hydraulic-powered, pneumatic-powered components. In another embodiment,the set of stripping wheels 1206 are coupled to the drivetrain housing1204. In another embodiment, the one or more motors of the drivetrainhousing 1204 are configured to rotate the set of stripping wheels 1206.For example, the one or more motors may be configured to rotate the oneor more stripping wheels 1206 in opposite directions. For instance, theone or more actuators may be configured to rotate the one or morestripping wheels 1206 so as to pull corn tassels up through the one ormore stripping wheels 1206, thus removing the tassels (e.g.,pollen-producing flowers on corn crop) in an upward vertical motion. Byway of another example, the one or more actuators may be configured toactuate the one or more detasseling wheels 1206 in the same rotationaldirection, though it is noted same-direction rotation may damage thestripping wheels 1206. In another embodiment, the detasseling attachment1200 includes a cutting assembly to remove any tassels that are missedby the one or more detasseling wheels 1206.

It is noted herein vision systems may be implemented to determinewhether all targeted plant tassels have been eliminated by thedetasseling attachment 1200. If the vision systems observe tassels havebeen missed, the field engagement unit 102 may respond by re-activatingthe detasseling attachment 1200.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the field engagement unit102 includes one or more irrigation attachments 1300. In one embodiment,the one or more irrigation attachments 1300 are coupled to the supportframe 106 of the support assembly 104. For example, the one or moreirrigation attachments may be coupled to the support frame 106 via adrop 1304. For instance, the drop 1304 is of a fixed length. It is notedherein, however, that the drops 1304 across the field engagement unit102 may be different fixed lengths. Alternatively, the drop 1304includes one or more extendable and/or retractable sections. Inaddition, the drop 1304 is flexible. Alternatively, the drop 1304 may berigid. By way of another example, the one or more irrigation attachments130 may be directly coupled to the support frame 106. In one embodiment,the main tube 202 may transport water for purposes of irrigation to theirrigation attachments 1300. It is noted herein, however, that anadditional pipe may be coupled to the support assembly 104 for purposesof irrigation, freeing the main tube 202 to be used in the delivery ofdifferent material and/or product to the other one or more work toolassemblies 114.

In another embodiment, the irrigation attachment 1300 is capable ofspraying at a variable rate. For example, the irrigation attachment 1300may include an adjustable nozzle 1302. It is noted herein that allirrigation attachments 1300 may include the same nozzle 1302. However,it is also possible for one or more irrigation attachments 1300 toinclude a different nozzle 1302 from the remainder of the irrigationattachments 1300. By way of another example, the irrigation attachment1300 may include a valve control apparatus.

In another embodiment, one irrigation attachment 1300 is controlled at atime. In another embodiment, multiple irrigation attachments 1300 arecontrolled simultaneously. For example, the irrigation attachments 1300in a specific section of the field engagement unit 102 may be controlledsimultaneously. By way of another example, select multiple irrigationattachments 1300 may be controlled simultaneously.

In another embodiment, all irrigation attachments 1300 on a fieldengagement unit 102 feed from the same irrigation tube. In anotherembodiment, one or more of the irrigation attachments 1300 instead feedfrom a different irrigation tube than the remainder of the irrigationattachments 1300. In this regard, a set of the irrigation attachments1300 may be directed to providing irrigation water or chemicalfertilizer to a field, while another set of the irrigation attachmentsmay instead be directed to providing herbicide.

It is noted herein the irrigation attachments 1300 may water and/orfertilize based on one or more sets of information from the soil coringattachment 1000 and/or soil measurement attachment 1020. For example,the irrigation system 1300 may add or remove a determined amount offertilizer and/or water based on the analyzed soil condition whenirrigating. It is further noted herein the irrigation attachments 1300may be controlled so as to irrigate, fertiligate, or chemigatesimultaneously with adjacent work tool assemblies 114 with irrigationattachments 1300.

In another embodiment, the irrigation attachments 1302 and 1304 utilizesVRI (variable rate irrigation) technology where a valve controls asingle sprinkler or utilizes section control (a section of multiplesprinklers) as well as on/off for the whole system. Shown in 1300 aredrops, where sprinklers are attached at the bottom of flexible hoses toreduce the amount of irrigation water that is wasted due the blowing ofwind. It is also conceived that irrigation fertiligation, or chemigationcan also be injected into the soil, be applied via a series of slowsoaker hoses that are drug behind the field engagement unit, or utilizea series of fixed sprinklers that are attached to the upper structure ofthe field engagement unit.

Although the above embodiments are directed to a support-frame mountedirrigation attachment 1300, it is noted herein that the one or more worktool assemblies 114 may be configured to utilize one or more irrigationattachments 1300. For example, the nutrient application attachment 900may alternatively be used in low-pressure settings as an irrigationattachment 1300 to inject water into the ground, or to drag a soakerhose on the ground behind the field engagement unit 102 In this regard,irrigation water may be delivered with pinpoint accuracy to fieldlocations observed by the one or more phenotyping tools 700 to be inneed of irrigation. Therefore, the above description should not beinterpreted as a limitation on the present invention but merely anillustration.

In one embodiment, the one or more work tool assemblies 114 includes oneor more tilling attachments. In another embodiment, the one or moretilling attachments till soil in a vertical orientation by implementingone or more tilling procedures. For example, the one or more tillingprocesses may include, but are not limited to, deep tillage to break upsoil compaction, rotary tillage (mixing biomass), and surface tilling(ridge tilling) It is noted herein the one or more tilling proceduresmay be implemented with a precision down to an individual plant level.

In one embodiment, the one or more work tool assemblies 114 include oneor more harvesting attachments. In another embodiment, the harvestingattachments are configured to incorporate multiple rows of harvesters.In another embodiment, the harvesting attachments are configured toincorporate a single row of harvesters. For example, a single row ofharvesters would allow the field engagement unit 102 to harvest a singlerow of one crop while leaving an interspersed crop or variety in thefield for later harvesting. In another embodiment, the harvestingattachments are configured to incorporate a single harvesting attachmentfor per-plant crop management. It is noted herein that the harvestingattachments may harvest in any amount from full field to an individualplant level.

In another embodiment, the harvesting attachments are configured tomeasure crop harvest yield. It is further noted herein that theharvesting attachments may measure crop harvest in any amount from fullfield to an individual plant level.

In another embodiment, harvested product is stored on the fieldengagement unit 102. For example, the harvested product may be stored inthe material storage devices 120 on the work tool assembly 114. By wayof another example, the harvested product may be stored in the materialstorage containers 120 in the support frame 106. By way of anotherexample, the harvested product may be transported from the one or moreharvesting attachments to the material storage containers 120 coupled tothe support assemblies 110 via the manifold assembly 122. By way ofanother example, the harvested product may be transported from the oneor more harvesting attachments to one or more detached material storagecontainers 120 through the manifold assembly 122. In this example, theharvested product may be transported from the field engagement unit 102to the one or more separate material storage containers 120 via a centerpivot docking station 1702, described in detail further herein. By wayof another example, a hose reel utilizing a long flexible hose may beutilized to transfer harvested grain from the field engagement unit 102to a waiting truck, cart, or other storage container located elsewherein a field, road, or driveway. For instance, multiple bins on a cartwould be able to segregate a certain number of different segregatedmetric permutations that are desired to keep segregated, Additionally,the hose reel would lay down the tube so that the hose does notnegatively affect plants. On a future pass, the hose reel would reel thehose back up for storage until the next pass. It is noted herein theflexible tube may be used for transferring high volumes of irrigationwater to each field engagement unit 102 for irrigating crops. By way ofanother example, bulk grains may be accumulated on the field engagementunit 102 and set on the ground for future pick-up once fully filled.

In another embodiment, the harvesting attachment is configured toharvest fruits and vegetables including, but not limited to, nuts,tomatoes, grapes, strawberries, apples, pears, oranges, or grapefruits.In another embodiment, where corn ears are harvested in complete form tominimize seed damage, the harvesting attachment is configured totransport the corn ears intact to one or more material storagecontainers 120. For example, the corn ears may be transported intact toone or more material storage containers via a conveyor belt assembly. Itis noted herein, however, that the harvesting attachment may beconfigured to detach the kernels from the corn cobs.

In another embodiment the field engagement unit 102 is configured toconvey harvested crop being stored to a central threshing unit. Inanother embodiment, the harvesting attachments are configured to performone or more functions including, but not limited to, threshing,separating, and cleaning a crop when harvesting product from the crop.In another embodiment, the harvesting attachments are configured todisperse biomass following the harvest of crops.

It is noted herein that the field engagement unit 102 may determinewhether or not to harvest any particular portion of a field. In oneembodiment, the field engagement unit 102, in making the determination,takes into consideration the seed moisture, crop maturity, andadditional surrounding environment information. For example, thedetermination may be made by integrating data (real-time and nearreal-time) from a variety of sources including that of the field, localfuture forecasted weather, availability of transport logistics,available space at the grain dryer, truck wait times at the localelevator, crop process, fuel prices, grain drying costs, etc.

It another embodiment, seeds are graded and sorted by a work toolassembly attachment or by a field engagement unit 102, such that a usermay receive premium prices on his crop because of higher quality andtraceability standards. For example, grading metrics may includemoisture levels, color, hybrid, size, weight and/or density, blemishes(e.g. apples, pumpkins), etc.

In one embodiment, the one or more work tool assemblies 114 include oneor more biomass collection attachments including, but not limited to, abaling attachment. Residue or stover includes the cornstalk, leaves,husks, and tassels left in the field after corn has been harvested.Embodiments of the residue removal attachments are configured to performone or more functions including, but not limited to, shredding theremaining residue to assist natural decomposition, collecting shreddedmaterial into a compact form (e.g., a bale), cutting and collectingindividual corn plants into sheaves, and pelleting the biomass or stoverto be hauled to a processing facility for potential utilization in theproduction of bio-based material or ethanol production.

It is noted herein the one or more work tool assemblies 114 may beloaded onto, implemented by, and unloaded from the field engagement unit102 so as to make room for other work tools. For example, the weedingattachment 800 may be configured to mechanically weed around specificplants and/or regions of the field based on processed imagingrecommendations. In this regard, herbicide use may be lessened orremoved, in an effort to ensure that late emerging plants do not havethe adverse effects of stealing resources away from quickly emergingplants, effectively acting as weeds. By way of another example, theweeding attachment 800 may be configured to cull plants that do notemerge within the projected time window. By way of another example, theweeding attachment 800 may be configured to treat specific plants and/orregions of the field with herbicide and/or fungicide based on processedimaging and other data-based recommendations. In this regard,application of herbicide and/or fungicide is limited to only the areaswhere necessary, in contrast to a broadcasted spray approach. By way ofanother example, the one or more nutrient application attachments 900may be configured to provide plant- or region-specific fertilizer basedon imaged plant color. By way of another example, the one or morenutrient application attachments 900 may be configured to provideprecise region-specific fertilizer based on frequent or infrequent soilsampling. By way of another example, the irrigation attachment 1300 maybe configured to provide region-specific irrigation based on soilmoisture sampling. By way of another example, the irrigation attachment1300 may be configured to provide region-specific irrigation based onthe temperature, site-specific ET (evapotranspiration), wind speed, winddirection, and relative humidity of the surrounding environment, soiltype, or field topography.

It is noted herein that any of the work tool attachments may be coupledto the common work tool chassis 602 a. It is also noted herein that anyof the work tool attachments may be coupled to the common work toolchassis 602 b. It is further noted herein, however, that any of the worktool attachments may require an attachment-specific chassis. Forexample, the weeding attachment tool 114 may instead be a weeding toolwith a specific chassis. Therefore, the above description should not beinterpreted as a limitation on the present invention but merely anillustration.

It is further noted herein that any of the motors attached to the one ormore work tool assemblies 114, including motors in the carriers, chassisand the various work tool attachments embodied above, may be driven withan alternative power than electricity. For example, any of the motorsattached to the one or more work tool assemblies 114 may be drivenhydraulically or pneumatically. By way of another example, the one ormore work tool assemblies 114 may include any control systems componentsnecessary to actuate hydraulically- and/or pneumatically-driven motors.Therefore, the above description should not be interpreted as alimitation on the present invention but merely an illustration.

FIGS. 14A-14E illustrate the one or more material storage containers 120of system 100, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure. It is noted herein that the various system embodiments,components and architecture described previously herein should beinterpreted to extend to FIGS. 14A-14E.

For purposes of the present disclosure, “material” as defined formaterial storage containers includes, but is not limited to, water, anysolution-based herbicide product, any seed product, any fertilizerproduct, any nutrient product, soil cores, granular fertilizer, and thelike to be used in agricultural applications. For example, the materialmay include any of liquid fertilizer, herbicide, fungicide, insecticide,and dry fertilizer.

FIG. 14A illustrates one or more material storage containers 1400, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Inone embodiment, the one or more material storage containers 1400 areseparate units from the field engagement unit 102. For example, fieldengagement unit 102 may be coupled to the center pivot docking station1702, the center pivot docking station 1702 described in detail furtherherein. In this regard, material may be retrieved by the fieldengagement unit 102 via one or more material feed components 1705 on thecenter pivot docking station 1702 as necessary.

FIG. 14B illustrates a support structure 110, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, one ormore material storage containers platforms 1402 are coupled to thesupport structure 110. In another embodiment, one or more materialstorage containers 1404 are coupled to the one or more material storagecontainer platforms 1402. For example, the one or more material storagecontainers 1404 may be permanently coupled to the one or more platforms1402 such that material is loaded into the containers 1406 from asecondary source when coupled to the field engagement unit 102. By wayof another example, empty material storage containers 1404 may beremoved from the one or more platforms 1402 and replaced with filledmaterial storage containers 1404. For instance, the material storagecontainers 1404 may be moved with a pallet fork.

In another embodiment, the one or more material storage containers 1404and platforms 1402 are located on a different end from where the one ormore work tool assemblies 114 are loaded and/or unloaded onto the worktool rail assembly 108. In this regard, the one or more work toolassemblies 114 may be loaded and/or unloaded while the storagecontainers are being filled or replaced. However, it is noted herein thestorage containers 1406 and the location of where the one or more worktool assemblies 114 are loaded and unloaded may be on the same side ofthe field engagement unit 102.

FIG. 14C illustrates a material storage container 1406 housed within thechassis 602 a of the work tool 114, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the materialstorage container 1406 houses material for work processes including, butnot limited to, planting, fertilizing, spraying, and the like. Inanother embodiment, the material storage container 1406 includes a spoutassembly 1406 a. For example, the material storage container 1406 may bere-filled with material via the spout assembly 1406 a from the manifoldassembly 122, described in detail further herein. For instance, themanifold assembly 122 may have one or more distribution valves to whichthe spout assembly 1406 a may be coupled while being filled. In anotherembodiment, the material storage container 1406 receives soil core andother soil measurement samples from the soil coring attachment 1000,soil measurement attachment 1020, or the combination soil coring andmeasurement tool 1040.

In another embodiment, the spout 1406 a includes a lid for keeping rain,dust, and wind out of the container. For example, the self-contained andclosed nature of the material storage container may allow for theability of each system to transfer material pneumatically from thestorage container 1406 to the end to the work tool assembly 114 usingone or more (including a combination of) gravity, suction, vacuum, andthe like to transfer materials.

FIG. 14D illustrates one or more material storage containers within thesupport frame 106 of a field engagement unit 102. In one embodiment, theone or more material storage containers within the support frame 106include one or more fluid material storage containers 1408. It is notedherein the material storage containers 1408 store mostly liquidmaterials. In another embodiment, the one or more material storagecontainers within the support frame 106 include one or more fluidizedsolids material storage containers 1410. For example, the materialstorage containers 1410 store fluidized solids requiring steep slopes sothat their high angles of incidence allow them to fully empty even athigh moisture levels. In this embodiment, the one or more fluidizedsolids material storage containers 1410 are configured to drain througha sump 1410 a at the bottom of the storage container 1410.

In another embodiment, the material storage containers 1408 and 1410utilize a method of remotely measuring the level of the material in itstank and viewing of the measured data to optimize each pass. In thisregard, the machine knows how much material is needed for a specificpass through the field and does not start a pass without having enoughinput materials to complete that pass. As such, the field engagementunit autonomously or via manual interaction is able to proactively fillfrom one or more larger bulk containers.

FIG. 14E illustrates a manifold assembly 122 housed within the supportframe 106, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure. In one embodiment, the manifold assembly 122 is configuredto transport material along the length of the support frame 106. Forexample, transported material may include, but is not limited to, water,agronomic inputs, sampling outputs, and harvesting outputs. In oneembodiment, the manifold assembly 122 includes one or more manifolds1422. For example, the one or more manifolds 1422 may be separate fromthe main tube 202. By way of another example, the one or more manifolds1422 may be coupled to the main tube 202.

In another embodiment, the manifold assembly 122 includes one or moremanifold auxiliary pipes 1424 coupled to the one or more manifolds 1422.For example, a portion of the one or more manifold auxiliary pipes 1424may be pneumatic-driven. For instance, dry material including, but notlimited to, seeds and dry fertilizer may require pneumatic-driven pipes.By way of another example, a portion of the one or more manifoldauxiliary pipes 1424 may be pressure-driven. By way of another example,a portion of the one or more manifold auxiliary pipes 1424 may utilize ascrew conveyor. For instance, liquid material including, but not limitedto, water, liquid fertilizer, herbicide, and fungicide may requirepressure-driven manifold auxiliary pipes 1424. In another embodiment,the one or more manifold auxiliary pipes 1424 retrieve material from theone or more material storage containers 1404 mounted on the supportstructure 110. In another embodiment, the one or more manifold auxiliarypipes 1424 extend to the one or more work tool assemblies 114. Forexample, the manifold assembly 122 may deliver material from the onboardmaterial storage containers to the dispensing valve where it can bemixed and dispensed through the distribution valves to the work toolassemblies 114 via the spouts 1406 a. By way of another example, the oneor more manifold auxiliary pipes 1424 may extend directly into theattachments on the one or more work tool assemblies 114. By way ofanother example, the one or more manifold auxiliary pipes 1424 maydeposit material into the one or more storage containers 1406 coupled tothe work tool chassis 602.

It is noted herein the manifold assembly 122 is for on-board mixing ofinputs such as herbicide or fertilizer, as pre-mixed material decreasesin effectiveness based on the post-mixed storage time. As such, it isdesired to mix only the amount that will be consumed as close to thetime it is needed as possible. In this regard, the field engagement unit102 allows for the possibility to keep all materials separated until awork tool needs that product at which time the manifold is able toreceive, measure, and mix those input materials that are needed for aparticular prescription. It is further noted herein that more than onemanifold mixing assembly could be utilized per field engagement unit, toallow multiple real-time hot-mixing operations for similar or differentoperations to take place during the same field pass (e.g., herbicideapplication while applying nutrients).

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2G, the work toolassemblies 114 are configured to dock with the one or more manifolds1422 to be re-loaded. In one example, a work tool 114 is configured torequest an additional filling electronic work order from the fieldengagement unit 102 control system. For example, this data may beexchanged via a wireless or wired connection. Once the work order hasbeen approved, the field engagement unit 102 is configured to rearrangethe work tool 114 to the correct position on the one or more rails 108in order to physically dock with a manifold 1422 or directly to astorage container 1408 or 1410. For example, docking may be accomplishedvia wireless proximity relationships, through the use of physicalswitches, and/or position measurement via a linear encoder. Once thecontrol system has verified the correct work tool has docked with thecorrect manifold 1422, the field engagement unit 102 is configured toopen the manifold 1422, dispensing valves, and/or distribution valvesand allow a set amount of material into the material storage container1406 coupled to the work tool 114. Once the re-loading is complete, thework tool 114 is configured to undock from the manifold 1422 and returnto operation.

It is noted herein there may be multiple manifold assemblies 122 coupledto the field engagement unit 102. It is further noted herein that one ormore material delivery work tools may be used to fill their respectiveoperational work tools in order to allow each respective work tool tohave as little filling-time as possible. It is further noted herein thatthat an operational work tool may never stop working, beingautomatically filled while it is moving and working on its respectiverail by its mating material delivery work tool. For example, once afilling operation has been complete, the material delivery work tool maygo to refill from the central fill manifold, directly refill via amaterial storage container 1408, or continue filling other operationalwork tools until it is empty and must refill.

FIG. 14F illustrates an alternative build of the manifold assembly 122,in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Inone embodiment, the main transport tube 202 is surrounded by one or moremanifold auxiliary pipes 1424. It is noted this assembly is likely to beimplemented where the main tube 202 is coupled to the one or moremanifolds 1422 of the manifold assembly 122. It is contemplated that theassembly housing the main tube 202 surrounded by the one or moremanifold auxiliary pipes 1424 may be fabricated in sections along thelength of the field engagement unit, such that the section containing amain tube 202 or manifold pipe 1424 may be removed instead of having toremove the entire pipe containing the failure.

It is noted herein that such an arrangement allows the work toolassembly 114 to draw off input material at any position along its pathby drawing material off the common tube 202. It is envisioned that thisworks similarly to that of an ink jet printer, where herbicide,fertilizer, etc. is drawing from the common tube 202 by the work toolassembly 114 at whatever position the work tool is located. In thisregard, material storage would be less needed on the work tool carrierbecause input materials are available on-demand.

FIGS. 15A-15H illustrate the one or more power sources for the fieldengagement unit 102, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure. FIGS. 15A-15H also illustrate one or more componentswith which power is distributed throughout the field engagement unit102. FIGS. 15A-15H also illustrate one or more methods by which power isdistributed throughout the field engagement unit 102. It is noted hereinthat the various system embodiments, components and architecturedescribed previously herein should be interpreted to extend to the FIGS.15A-15H.

FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate a power source 1502. For example, the powersource 1502 may be a combustion engine-powered electric generator. Forinstance, the electric generator may be diesel-powered. By way ofanother example, the power source 1502 may be configured to run fromswappable battery packs. In this example, the field engagement unit 102is configured to sense when the battery pack is depleted and travel to adocking station to re-charge and/or swap battery packs. By way ofanother example, the power source 1502 may be configured to run from oneor more fuel cells. In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 15A,the power source 1502 is coupled to a platform 1504, where the platform1504 is coupled on the cross member 504 of the support structure 110. Inanother embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 15B, the power source 1502 iscoupled to the support frame 106

In another embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 may include anynumber of one-power sources 1502 disposed on the one or more supportstructures 110, or within the support frame 106.

For example, the field engagement unit 102 may include a first powersource 1502 coupled to the support assembly 110, where the first powersource 1502 provides power to one or more propulsion units 122 and oneor more steering assemblies 500. By way of another example, the fieldengagement unit 102 may include a second power source 1502 coupled tothe support assembly 104, where the second power source 1502 providespower to the one or more work tool assemblies 114. It is noted that ifthe field engagement unit 102 is configured to implement a second powersource 1502, the second power source 1502 may be mounted opposite thefirst field engagement unit 102 for purposes of weight distribution.

By way of another example, a power source 1502 may be coupled to eachend of the support frame 106. For example, one power source 1502 mayprovide power for propulsion, steering, and support structure actuation,while a second or auxiliary power source 1502 may power thefunctionality of the work tools. In this regard, power efficiency isimproved as several of the field engagement unit 102 tasks require onlypropulsion (e.g. crop scouting, imaging, driving from one field toanother, traveling to refill). In these cases, the auxiliary powersource could shut off to save fuel.

FIGS. 15C-15H illustrate a power source work tool assembly 1500including one or more power sources 1506. In one embodiment, the powersource work tool assembly 1500 operates under AC 2-phase, AC 3-phase, orDC power. In another embodiment, the power from the one or more powersources 1506 is distributed throughout the field engagement unit 102.For example, the field engagement unit may include one or more smallpower sources 1506 shared between the one or more support structures 110of the support assembly 104. In this regard, the width of the fieldengagement unit 102 may be reduced, as additional space is not requiredon the one or more support structures 110 of the support assembly 104for the power source 1502. In another embodiment, modular power packwork tool assemblies 114 are added as high power needs are required. Forexample, the output from the power pack may be directly added to theelectrical energy available to work tools. In this regard, applicationsrequiring high energy consumption may be supplied with one or moreadditional power packs. In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG.15C, the power source 1506 is housed in a cradle 1508. In anotherembodiment, the cradle 1508 is coupled to the work tool rail assembly108 via a cradle 1508. In another embodiment (although not shown), thepower sources 1506 are mounted directly to the underside of the carrier1510.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 15D, the carrier 1510includes one or more rollers 1511. For example, the rollers 1511 arepowered. In another embodiment, the carrier 1510 includes one or moreconductor bars 1512. In another embodiment, the one or more conductorbars 1512 include one or more conducting plates 1512 a. It is noted thefield engagement unit 102 may include one or more control systemscomponents to determine the position of the power source work toolassembly 1500 on the work tool rail assembly 108 including, but notlimited to, one or more rotary or linear encoders on the one or moreconductor bars 1512, as well as bar codes, UTC codes, etc.

It is noted herein that embodiments of the present disclosure aredirected to the carrier 1510 being a modified version of the carrier 608a. However, carrier 608 a may be usable as the carrier 1510 withoutmodification. Additionally, carrier 608 b may be usable as the carrier1510 either with or without modification. Therefore, the abovedescription should not be interpreted as a limitation on the presentinvention but merely an illustration.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 15E and 15F, the one ormore power sources 1506 in the one or more cradles 1508 are coupled tothe one or more work rails 108. In another embodiment, the work toolrail assembly 108 includes one or more conductor bar slots 1514. Forexample, the one or more cradles 1500 may be coupled to the conductorbar slots 1514 via the rail-mount bracket 1510 with one or moreconductor bars 1512. By way of another example, the one or moreconductor bars 1512 may be spring-loaded with one or more springassemblies to ensure contact with the conductor bar slot 1514. Inanother embodiment, the conductor bars 1512 and one or more conductorrails can be made of power-conductive materials such as copper,aluminum, alloys of the two, or other materials conducive to electricitymovement. In another embodiment, the one or more power sources 1506 maybe configured to distribute power through the one or more conductingplates 1512 a of the one or more conductor bars 1512. It is noted hereinthe conductor bar slot 1514 is recessed to prevent contact withconductive material including, but not limited to, water or a person'shand.

In one embodiment (although not shown), the conductor bars 1512 withplates 1512 a may be formed as a single component conductor bar rail.

In another embodiment, power from the one or more power sources 1506 isdistributed to the field engagement unit 102 through the conductor bars1512 in contact with the work tool rail assembly 108. In anotherembodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 15G, power from the one or more powersources 116 is distributed throughout the field engagement unit 102 viaa parallel power grid 1520. For example, distributing power through theparallel power grid 1520 may create a fall-over power redundancy, wherethe field engagement unit 102 is still able to function in a lower stateif one or more power sources 116 fail or are turned off due to lowerpower needs from work tools or the unit in general. For instance, thecontrol systems of the field engagement unit 102 may be configured toadjust to still allow for propulsion and reduced work toolfunctionality, though at a lower current availability. Additionally, thefield engagement unit 102 may be configured to adjust by undocking theone or more non-functioning power sources 116 and docking one or morereplacement functioning power sources 116 once loaded.

In another embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 is configured toshut off one or more power sources 116 when power input from them isunnecessary, without powering down the entire field engagement unit 102.For example, the field engagement unit 102 may be configured toimplement an “eco-mode” setting to minimize power usage. For instance,utility companies often shut down irrigation systems to conserveavailable power during peak-times in the summer months. With theeco-mode setting, the field engagement unit 102 may be configured tocontinue to spray the field, but not irrigate during peak-times.

It is noted herein one or more power sources 1506 operating in parallelat an optimum capacity may provide the equivalent power as a singlepower source 1502 operating at a maximum capacity. This equivalent powermay additionally be provided in a more efficient manner through one ormore power sources 1506 operating in parallel at an optimum capacitythan by a single power source 1502 operating at a maximum capacity.

It is noted herein the distributed power source work tool assemblies1500 may be configured to additionally automatically connect to a powerdistribution system on the field engagement unit 102.

In another embodiment, power is distributed via inductive or near-fieldenergy transfer to one or more batteries, one or more capacitors, or oneor more battery/capacitor hybrids on the one or more work toolassemblies 114. It is noted herein that conductor bars 1512 would havecontact with mating conductor rails on the gantry structure withinductive or near-field energy transfer. In another embodiment,electrical energy would pass to the work tools via induction. This typeof energy transfer, although less efficient, would allow for less wearbecause of the contactless nature of the components, allowing for higherreliability.

It is noted herein the field engagement unit 102 may be configured toload and/or unload the power source work tool assemblies 1500 in afashion similar to loading and unloading the one or more work toolassemblies 114. For example, one or more power sources 1506 in one ormore cradles 1508 may be added as additional power demands arise, anadditional one or more work tool assemblies 114 is added or anadditional field engagement unit 102 is added. By way of anotherexample, one or more power sources 1506 in one or more cradles 1508 maybe loaded on the field engagement unit 102 to replace one or morecurrently-loaded, non-functioning power sources 1506 in one or morecradles 1508. By way of another example, an unloaded power source worktool assembly 1500 may be stored and maintained at a central locationinstead of in a field.

In another embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 includes one ormore components to absorb solar radiation (i.e. generate solar power).In another embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 includes one ormore components to store the absorbed radiation (i.e. one or morebatteries).

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 15H, a work tool 114includes the rail-mount bracket 608. In another embodiment, therail-mount bracket 608 includes two or more conductor bars 1512. It isnoted the two or more conductor bars 1512 are necessary to cross thejoint between two field engagement units and have access to power forthe entirety of the transfer period. For example, two conductor bars1512 of the rail-mount bracket 608 may initially be in contact with aconductor bar slot 1532 a of a work tool rail 108 a of a first fieldengagement unit 102 a. As the work tool 114 travels along the work toolrail 108 a, one of the two conductor bars 1512 of the work tool 114 istransferred to a conductor bar slot 1532 b of a work tool rail 108 b ofa second field engagement unit 102 b. In this regard, the work tool 114may receive power from both the first field engagement unit 102 a andthe second engagement unit 102 b simultaneously. Eventually, bothconductor bars 1512 of the work tool 114 are transferred to theconductor bar slot 1532 b of the work tool rail 108 b. In this example,the space between the two field engagement units 102 a and 102 b may becovered with a flexible, non-conductive shield 1534 including, but notlimited to, rubber. However, as the shield 1534 is non-conductive, itmay also be necessary for the space between the two field engagementunits 102 a and 102 b to include flexible electric leads that connectthe field engagement units 102 a and 102 b together underneath theflexible, non-conductive shield 1534.

It is noted herein the one or more rail-mount brackets 1510 of the oneor more cradles 1508 may be alternatively constructed to couple to thesupport frame 106 of the support assembly 104. It is further notedherein one or more power distribution components may alternatively or inaddition be included in the support frame 106 of the support assembly104. For example, one or more conductor bars may be embedded in thesupport frame 106.

In another embodiment, the one or more power sources may include thecomponents for a solar-powered, wind-powered, or hydrogen-poweredsystem. In the case of a solar-powered system, the components mayinclude one or more mounted photovoltaic components, or photovoltaicpaint, electrically coupled to one or more conversion components and oneor more batteries, where the batteries store the electric powerconverted from the absorbed solar energy.

In another embodiment, the power sources may be coupled to theelectricity grid, through the use of an in-field electric power networkincluding overhead or buried power cables as well as through the use ofpermanent rails on which the field engagement unit might run.

In additional embodiments, the one or more field engagement units 102include one or more local weather stations. These weather stationsprovide information to the one or more field engagement units 102including, but not limited to, wind speed, wind direction, rainfall,relative humidity, ambient temperature, rainfall, and barometricpressure. In this regard, the control systems of the one or more fieldengagement units 102 may adjust the operating parameters of the one ormore components of the support assembly 104, the one or more propulsionunits 112, and the one or more work tool assemblies 114. For example, aherbicide spraying function may be stopped when wind speed exceeds a setvalue until wind speed is reduced under a threshold value. As such,herbicide drift with the wind to an unintended field may be prevented.By way of another example, the support assembly gantry may lower to asafe lower position to protect the field engagement system from beingtipped over/damaged from damaging wind speeds when wind speed exceeds aset value. By way of another example, ET (evapotranspiration) may becalculated from other measured weather data. It is noted herein thecalculated ET values, ambient temperature, and forecasted rainfall maybe compared to soil moisture measurements at one or multiple depths toprovide a high-resolution irrigation prescription map.

FIGS. 16A-16H illustrate the transportation of one or more fieldengagement units 102, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure. FIGS. 16A-16H also illustrate the docking of two ormore field engagement units 102 together, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted herein that thevarious system embodiments, components and architecture describedpreviously herein should be interpreted to extend to the embodiments ofFIGS. 16A-16H.

In one embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 may be transported by atruck 1602 with cab 1604. For example, the truck may pull an enclosedtrailer 1606. By way of another example, the truck may pull a flatbedtrailer 1608. By way of another example, the truck may pull a drop decktrailer. In another embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 mayinclude a hitch attachment (e.g., three-point hitch attachment, ballhitch attachment, slot and tab attachment, bolted joint attachment, andthe like) coupled to the support assembly 104. In the case of a hitchattachment, the hitch attachment may allow existing agriculturalimplements to be installed. In the case of a ball hitch attachment, thefield engagement unit 102 may be moved via a third-party device such asa tractor or a truck instead of with self-propulsion or a semi-trailer1602. In another embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 may betransported in a shipping container.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 16B, the field engagementunit 102 may be configured so as to allow transportation to a location(e.g., field) by a truck 1600 via an enclosed trailer 1606, flatbedtrailer 1608, or drop deck trailer in a compact form. In anotherembodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 16C, support frame arms 106 a and 106b may be folded against the main section of the support frame 106. Inanother embodiment, the support structures 110 may be folded inward tominimize the width of the field engagement unit 102 footprint. Inanother embodiment, the propulsion units 112 are aligned so as to drivethe field engagement unit 102 in a line parallel to the length of theunit 102. In another embodiment (although not shown), the supportstructure 106 is collapsible.

FIGS. 16D-FIG. 16G illustrate an unfolding routine following thetransport of the field engagement unit 102 by truck 1600, in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. In oneembodiment, the support structure 106 is raised. In another embodiment,the propulsion units 112 are aligned with a line parallel to the lengthof the support structure 106. In another embodiment, the propulsionunits 116 are actuated to propel the field engagement unit 102. Inanother embodiment, the ability for the field engagement unit 102 toload and unload itself includes driving itself down a ramp at the rearof the enclosed trailer 1606, flatbed 1608, or drop deck trailer. Inanother embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 16D, the propulsion units 112are rotated to be aligned with a line perpendicular to the length of theunit 102. In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 16E, thepropulsion units 112 are actuated so as to unfold the support structures110 from a position substantially parallel to the support structure 106length to a position substantially perpendicular to the supportstructure 106 length. In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 16Fand 16G, the support frame arms 106 a and 106 b are unfolded from afolded position against the main section of the support frame 106.

FIGS. 16H-16J illustrate implementing multiple field engagement units102 a, 102 b, 120 c simultaneously in a field, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted herein that anynumber of field engagement units may be implemented simultaneously.

In some cases, a single field engagement unit 102 may not be able toperform one or more field operations in an allotted period of time, orthe one or more field operations may be too complex for a single fieldengagement unit 102 to complete. In one embodiment, the multiple fieldengagement units 102 a, 102 b, 102 c are operated simultaneously in afield in a way so as to not duplicate or interfere with the work ordersof the multiple field engagement units 102 a, 102 b, 102 c. In thisregard, work may be completed in a faster, more efficient manner.

In another embodiment, the multiple field engagement units 102 a, 102 b,102 c are coupled to one another. For example, the units 102 a, 102 b,102 c may be flexibly coupled together via one or more mechanicalcouplings. It is noted herein this flexible mechanical coupling allowsthe movement of work tools from one field engagement unit to another,while still allowing each unit to flex over undulating ground terrain.It is noted herein, however, that mechanical couplings may berestrictive. By way of another example, the units 102 a, 102 b, 102 cmay be coupled together via one or more wireline communicationcouplings. By way of another example, the units 102 a, 102 b, 102 c maybe coupled together via one or more wireless communication couplings. Itis noted herein that the wireline and wireless communication couplingsallow the multiple units 102 a, 102 b, 102 c to operate with a distancebetween them or staggered, with one unit following in front or behindanother unit (i.e., the support assemblies 104 are shown not contactingone another).

In another embodiment, the multiple field engagement units 102 a, 102 b,102 c are communicatively coupled to one or more central controllers1622 via local controllers 130 a, 130 b, 130 c, respectively. Forexample, the one or more central controllers 1622 may be a cloud-basedarchitecture. In another embodiment (although not shown), the one ormore central controllers 1622 are communicatively coupled to one or morecontrollers including, but not limited to, user controller 140. Inanother embodiment, the one or more central controllers 1622 and anycommunicatively coupled controllers 130 a, 130 b, 130 c, 140 constantlyreceive and transmit sets of information to each other simultaneously,the sets of information providing operational conditions and operationalparameters specific to a receiving or a transmitting field engagementunit. In this regard, the one or more central controllers 1622 and anycommunicatively coupled controllers 130 a, 130 b, 130 c, 140 may beconstantly monitoring the operative status of the multiple units 102 a,102 b, 102 c, the operative status including, but not limited to, thefunctioning of the components of a particular field engagement unit andthe functioning of the particular field engagement unit relative toadjacent field engagement units. It is noted herein that this embodimentrequires all sets of information to pass through the one or more centralcontrollers 1622.

In another embodiment, the multiple field engagement units 102 a, 102 b,102 c are also communicatively coupled via the local controllers 130 a,130 b, 130 c, respectively. It is noted the inter-unit communicativecoupling may be simultaneously or separately implemented with thecommunicative coupling of the multiple units 102 a, 102 b, 102 c to theone or more central controllers 1622. In another embodiment, the one ormore central controllers 1622 and any communicatively coupledcontrollers 130 a, 130 b, 130 c, 140 constantly receive and transmitsets of information to each other simultaneously, the sets ofinformation providing operational conditions and operational parametersspecific to a receiving or a transmitting field engagement unit. In thisregard, the one or more central controllers 1622 and communicativelycoupled local controllers 130 a, 130 b, 130 c, may be constantlymonitoring the operative status of the multiple units 102 a, 102 b, 102c, the operative status including, but not limited to, the functioningof the components of a particular field engagement unit and the overallfunctioning of the particular field engagement unit relative to adjacentfield engagement units. It is noted herein that this embodiment does notrequire all sets of information to pass through the one or more centralcontrollers 1622.

It is noted herein the central controllers 1622 may be one or moreservers 1622. It is further noted herein the central controllers 1622may be a user controller.

In one embodiment, the local controllers 130 a, 130 b, 130 c worktogether collectively as the central controller 1622 to coordinate thevarious functions of the field engagement units 102 a, 102 b, 102 c as acollective controller, removing the need for a separate centralcontroller 1622. In another embodiment, the local controllers 130 a, 130b, 130 c coordinate the function of the support structures 110,propulsion units 112, steering assemblies 500, and work tool assemblies114 on the respective field engagement units 102 a, 102 b, 102 c. Inanother embodiment, the field engagement units 102 a, 102 b, 102 c areconfigured to compare the Global Positioning System (GPS) locations ofeach field engagement unit 102 a, 102 b, 102 c so as to monitor, modify,or keep spacing between the units 102 a, 102 b, 102 c. In anotherembodiment, the field engagement units 102 a, 102 b,102 c are configuredto compare the locations of each field engagement unit 102 a, 102 b, 102c via positional or proximity sensing so as to monitor, modify, or keepspacing between the units 102 a, 102 b, 102 c. In another embodiment,the field engagement units 102 a, 102 b,102 c are configured to comparethe locations of each field engagement unit 102 a, 102 b, 102 c viain-field wireless communications. In this regard, the field engagementunits 102 a, 102 b, 102 c may accurately pin-point the position of eachunit 102 a, 102 b,102 c relative to one or more known geo-locationpoints.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 16K, a single fieldengagement unit 102 includes multiple support assemblies 104 withmultiple support frames 106 and multiple support structures 110. Inanother embodiment, the local controller 130 constantly receives andtransmits sets of information to and from the multiple supportassemblies 104 simultaneously, the sets of information providingoperational conditions and operational parameters specific to areceiving or transmitting support assembly 104. In this regard, thefield engagement unit 102 simultaneously monitors the operative statusof the multiple support assemblies 104, the operative status including,but not limited to, the functioning of the components of a particularsupport assembly 104 and the overall functioning of the particularsupport assembly 104 relative to other support assemblies 104.

It is noted herein that communications between the multiple fieldengagement units 102 a, 102 b, 102 c in FIGS. 16H-1J (or the multiplesupport assemblies 104 in FIG. 16K) may include maintaining geo-spatialpositioning of the extreme support structure 106 ends of the supportassemblies 104 in each field engagement unit 102 to a selected tolerancelevel. It is further noted herein the extreme support structure 106 endsmay include GPS on each support structure 110 and/or proximity sensingdevices to precisely measure and control the position of the fieldengagement unit 102 relative to the other field engagement units 102.

While much of the present disclosure has been focused on theomnidirectional capable field engagement unit 102, it is noted hereinthat such a configuration is not a limitation on the scope of thepresent disclosure. Rather, much of the present disclosure may beextended to the context of an improved center pivot irrigation system.FIGS. 17A-17E illustrates a center pivot irrigation system 1700, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. It isnoted herein that the various system embodiments, components andarchitecture described previously herein should be interpreted to extendto the center pivot docking system of FIGS. 17A-17E, unless otherwisenoted.

It is further noted that one or more of the various components orsub-systems of the present disclosure may be extended to any centerpivot operational environment. For example, any center pivot irrigationsystem known in the art may be retrofitted with one or more of thecapabilities (e.g., work tools, sensors, etc.) of the presentdisclosure. A center pivot irrigation system is described in U.S. PatentPublication No. 2007/0188605, published on Aug. 16, 2007; and U.S.Patent Publication No. 2008/0046130, published on Feb. 21, 2008, whichare each incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 17A, the center pivot dockingstation 1702 is coupled to one or more support assembly 104 spans. Inanother embodiment, each support structure 110 propels its particularassembly 104 span around the docking station 1702. It is noted hereinthat each propulsion unit 112 is steered at a different angle dependingon its proximity to the central docking station 1702. For example, thepropulsion units 112 closest to the docking station 1702 will be steeredto a sharp angle relative to those that are at the outermost portionfurthest from the central pivot 1700.

In another embodiment, one or more material storage containers 120 maybe located near the center pivot docking station 1702. It is notedherein that the center pivot docking station 1702 may be implementedwith field engagement units 102 including the propulsion unit 112 asillustrated in FIG. 4I.

In another embodiment, the center pivot system 1700 includes a centerpivot drive system configured to drive the one or more propulsion unitsof the center pivot field engagement unit, where the one or morepropulsion units provide rotational control of the center pivot fieldengagement unit.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 17B, the center pivotdocking station 1702 includes a support frame 1703. In anotherembodiment, the docking station 1702 includes a base 1704 buried underthe ground 1701. In another embodiment, the base 1704 includes one ormore feed tubes 1704 a. For example, the feed tubes 1704 a may mate withtender containers, like seed, herbicide, fertilizer, harvested grain,water from an irrigation well, transporting material/product andirrigation water underground. By way of another example, one or morefeed tubes 1704 a may have an exposed end with which the docking station1702 may receive material and/or product from nearby material storagecontainers 120. In another embodiment, the base 1704 is able to rotatewhile allowing the continuous transfer of inputs from storage containers120 that are located near the docking station 1702. It is noted hereinthe base 1704 could instead be above or only partially buried, dependingon the full range of vertical motion required by the respective fieldengagement unit 102.

In another embodiment, the docking station 1702 includes material feedcomponents 1705. For example, the material feed components 1705 mayinclude one or more flexible tubes. For instance, the material feedcomponents 1705 may include at least the main tube 202 and the auxiliarytubes 1424. In another embodiment, a bracket 1706 is coupled to thefield engagement units 102. In another embodiment, the bracket 1706 israised or lowered via an electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, telescopicsection, or mechanical drive assembly. In another embodiment, thedocking station 1702 includes a series of rollers and bearingsthroughout the support frame 1703 to assist is raising or lowering thebracket 1706. In another embodiment, as illustrated in position 1710 ain FIG. 17C and position 1710 b in 17D, both the center pivot dockingstation 1702 and each support structure 110 work in conjunction to raiseor lower the support assemblies 104. In this regard, the work toolassemblies 114 on the support assemblies 104 may operate at a desireddistance from the ground.

It is noted herein the circumference is largest at the outermost portionof the unit. As such, the area of the field at the extremity of the unitis also greatest and will need more work tools to balance out the totalamount of available time per revolution of the complete unit. In anotherembodiment, where a center pivot docking station 1702 is implemented,the field engagement unit 102 is constructed and/or operated such thatthe one or more work tool assemblies 114 on the field engagement unit102 are predominantly used at the outermost portions of the center pivotfield engagement unit so as to avoid the center pivot docking point.

In another embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 is permanentlycoupled to the center pivot docking station 1702. In another embodiment,the field engagement units 102 are controllable via the local controller130 such that they may self-transport themselves from one location toanother (e.g., one field to a second field). In this case, the localcontrollers 130 may direct the field engagement units 102 to dismountfrom a first center pivot docking station 1702, transport themselves toa second center pivot docking station 1702, and attach to the secondcenter pivot docking station 1702. In this embodiment, necessaryconnections including, but not limited to, electrical power, irrigationwater, automatic controls, seed product, and chemical lines would beautomatically disconnected from the first center pivot docking station1702 and re-connected to the second center pivot docking station 1702.Alternatively and/or additionally, one or more of the dismountingprocess, attachment process, disconnection process and/or reconnectionprocess may be carried out manually. This embodiment is particularlyadvantageous in the case where an individual does not require apermanent structure for on-demand irrigation, but instead requiresirrigation in different fields at different times. This embodiment wouldallow such a user to implement fewer systems and system components,sharing a single unit across multiple fields.

In another embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 implements currentstart/stop or variable speed electro-mechanical or hydro-electricpropulsion technology.

FIG. 18 illustrates one or more field engagement units 102 being used inlivestock applications, in accordance with one or more embodiments ofthe present disclosure. It is noted herein that the various systemembodiments, components and architecture described previously hereinshould be interpreted to extend to the livestock applications of thefield engagement unit 102 in FIG. 18.

FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate an agricultural processing system 1800, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Inone embodiment, the field engagement unit 102 is implemented in alivestock yard 1800 to manage livestock 1804, where the field engagementunit 102 is configured to move along one or more paths 1802. In anotherembodiment, the field engagement unit 102 is implemented in a livestockenclosure 1810 to manage livestock 1804, where the field engagement unit102 is configured to move along one or more paths 1802. For example, thelivestock enclosure 1810 may be a livestock containment building.

Examples of livestock include cattle, swine, poultry, and the like.However, it is noted herein that the field engagement unit 102 may beexpanded to animals other than livestock.

In one embodiment, one or more livestock-specific work tool assemblies114 are attached to the support assembly 104 of field engagement unit102. For example, the livestock-specific work tool assemblies 114 mayinclude one or more identification tracking sensors to track livestockvia ID or DNA or monitor livestock's social behaviors and environments,or one or more identification sensors to transmit livestock's IDinformation.

By way of another example, the livestock-specific work tool assemblies114 may include one or more autonomous feed bunk fillers; manureremovers including, but not limited to, one or more manure scrapers,grapplers, scoopers, liquid flushing device, or a vacuum device; watersprayers to cool livestock in hot weather and/or wash out animal pens;or one or more insecticide sprayers to apply insecticide to thelivestock and pens.

By way of another example, the livestock-specific work tool assemblies114 may include one or more cattle prods, one or more livestock leadingnooses, behavioral incentive distributors (e.g., a corral ortreat-provider), or one or more livestock relocating devices includingone or more of a corral, a claw, a basket, or a platform to herd or pickup to re-locate livestock to a designated location.

By way of another example, the livestock-specific work tool assemblies114 may include one or more animal health work tools (e.g. thermalcameras) to scan for livestock with high temperatures or one or morevision systems in one or more pens to scan livestock to capture andmeasure for predicting unhealthy behaviors. By way of another example,the livestock-specific work tool assemblies 114 may include one or morerobotic arms coupled to one or more check-up devices, where the one ormore robotic arms coupled to one or more check-up devices are configuredto perform one or more veterinary services such as completing a healthcheck on livestock, one or more medicine applicators, or one or morerobotic arms coupled to one or more robotic arms coupled to one or moresurgery tools, where the one or more robotic arms coupled to one or moresurgeon tools are configured to perform surgical procedures (e.g.assisting mother cow giving birth by pulling baby calf(s).

In another embodiment, pen manure scrapers may involve scooping upmanure form the pen, pushing the manure out of the pen, or sucking upthe manure and transporting it to another location. In anotherembodiment, the field engagement unit 102 is configured to process andreapply the manure scrapings as plant fertilizer.

It is noted herein the field engagement unit 102 includes one or moresystem components to control the one or more components of the fieldengagement unit 102. In one embodiment, the local controller 130 isconfigured to measure one or more operational parameters of the one ormore control system components. For example, the operational parametersmay include, but are not limited to, linear position of electricactuators, rotary position of electric actuators, voltage of electricactuators, and amperage of electric actuators. By way of anotherexample, the operational parameters may include, but are not limited to,linear position of hydraulic lift cylinders, rotary position ofhydraulic lift cylinders, and pressure of hydraulic lift cylinders. Byway of another example, the operational parameters may include, but arenot limited to, any operational parameters related to pneumatic systemcomponents.

While embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to autonomous,nearly autonomous, or semi-autonomous functionality, it is noted hereinthat the one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may insteadbe user-operated. Additionally, it is noted herein that any of the oneor more embodiments of the present disclosure may instead be operated bya self-propelled machine.

It is noted herein that one or more components of the field engagementunit 102 such as, but not limited to, the support frame 106, the worktool rail assembly 108, the support structures 110, the propulsion units112, the steering assemblies 500, the work tool assemblies 114 and anycomponents of the work tools assemblies 114, the material storagecontainers 120, and the manifold assemblies 122 may be implemented onany lateral-move irrigation system known in the art. It is further notedherein that one or more components of the support frame 106, the worktool rail assembly 108, the support structures 110, the propulsion units112, the steering assemblies 500, the work tool assemblies 114 and anycomponents of the work tools assemblies 114, the material storagecontainers 120, and the manifold assemblies 122 may be implemented onany center-pivot irrigation system known in the art.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the arthas progressed to the point where there is little distinction leftbetween hardware, software, and/or firmware implementations of aspectsof systems; the use of hardware, software, and/or firmware is generally(but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardwareand software can become significant) a design choice representing costvs. efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill in the art will appreciatethat there are various vehicles by which processes and/or systems and/orother technologies described herein can be effected (e.g., hardware,software, and/or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will varywith the context in which the processes and/or systems and/or othertechnologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determinesthat speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for amainly hardware and/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibilityis paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly softwareimplementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt forsome combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, thereare several possible vehicles by which the processes and/or devicesand/or other technologies described herein may be effected, none ofwhich is inherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to beutilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the vehiclewill be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, orpredictability) of the implementer, any of which may vary. Those skilledin the art will recognize that optical aspects of implementations willtypically employ optically-oriented hardware, software, and or firmware.

In some implementations described herein, logic and similarimplementations may include software or other control structures.Electronic circuitry, for example, may have one or more paths ofelectrical current constructed and arranged to implement variousfunctions as described herein. In some implementations, one or moremedia may be configured to bear a device-detectable implementation whensuch media hold or transmit device-detectable instructions operable toperform as described herein. In some variants, for example,implementations may include an update or modification of existingsoftware or firmware, or of gate arrays or programmable hardware, suchas by performing a reception of or a transmission of one or moreinstructions in relation to one or more operations described herein.Alternatively or additionally, in some variants, an implementation mayinclude special-purpose hardware, software, firmware components, and/orgeneral-purpose components executing or otherwise invokingspecial-purpose components. Specifications or other implementations maybe transmitted by one or more instances of tangible transmission mediaas described herein, optionally by packet transmission or otherwise bypassing through distributed media at various times.

Alternatively, or additionally, implementations may include executing aspecial-purpose instruction sequence or invoking circuitry for enabling,triggering, coordinating, requesting, or otherwise causing one or moreoccurrences of virtually any functional operations described herein. Insome variants, operational or other logical descriptions herein may beexpressed as source code and compiled or otherwise invoked as anexecutable instruction sequence. In some contexts, for example,implementations may be provided, in whole or in part, by source code,such as C++, or other code sequences. In other implementations, sourceor other code implementation, using commercially available and/ortechniques in the art, may be compiled/implemented/translated/convertedinto a high-level descriptor language (e.g., initially implementingdescribed technologies in C, C++, python, Ruby on Rails, Java, PHP,.NET, or Node.js programming language and thereafter converting theprogramming language implementation into a logic-synthesizable languageimplementation, a hardware description language implementation, ahardware design simulation implementation, and/or other such similarmode(s) of expression). For example, some or all of a logical expression(e.g., computer programming language implementation) may be manifestedas a Verilog-type hardware description (e.g., via Hardware DescriptionLanguage (HDL) and/or Very High Speed Integrated Circuit HardwareDescriptor Language (VHDL)) or other circuitry model which may then beused to create a physical implementation having hardware (e.g., anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit). Those skilled in the art willrecognize how to obtain, configure, and optimize suitable transmissionor computational elements, material supplies, actuators, or otherstructures in light of these teachings.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment,several portions of the subject matter described herein may beimplemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), orother integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art willrecognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capableof being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described hereinapplies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium usedto actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearingmedium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable typemedium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), aDigital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and atransmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analogcommunication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wiredcommunications link, a wireless communication link (e.g., transmitter,receiver, transmission logic, reception logic, etc.), etc.).

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that thevarious embodiments described herein can be implemented, individuallyand/or collectively, by various types of electro-mechanical systemshaving a wide range of electrical components such as hardware, software,firmware, and/or virtually any combination thereof; and a wide range ofcomponents that may impart mechanical force or motion such as rigidbodies, spring or torsional bodies, hydraulics, electro-magneticallyactuated devices, and/or virtually any combination thereof.Consequently, as used herein “electro-mechanical system” includes, butis not limited to, electrical circuitry operably coupled with atransducer (e.g., an actuator, a motor, a piezoelectric crystal, a MicroElectro Mechanical System (MEMS), etc.), electrical circuitry having atleast one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having atleast one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least oneapplication specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming ageneral purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g.,a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which atleast partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein,or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at leastpartially carries out processes and/or devices described herein),electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of memory(e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), electrical circuitryforming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communications switch,optical-electrical equipment, etc.), and/or any non-electrical analogthereto, such as optical or other analogs. Those skilled in the art willalso appreciate that examples of electro-mechanical systems include butare not limited to a variety of consumer electronics systems, medicaldevices, as well as other systems such as motorized transport systems,factory automation systems, security systems, and/orcommunication/computing systems. Those skilled in the art will recognizethat electro-mechanical as used herein is not necessarily limited to asystem that has both electrical and mechanical actuation except ascontext may dictate otherwise.

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that thevarious aspects described herein which can be implemented, individuallyand/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware,and/or any combination thereof can be viewed as being composed ofvarious types of “electrical circuitry.” Consequently, as used herein“electrical circuitry” includes, but is not limited to, electricalcircuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electricalcircuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitryhaving at least one application specific integrated circuit, electricalcircuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by acomputer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by acomputer program which at least partially carries out processes and/ordevices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computerprogram which at least partially carries out processes and/or devicesdescribed herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g.,forms of memory (e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), and/orelectrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem,communications switch, optical-electrical equipment, etc.). Those havingskill in the art will recognize that the subject matter described hereinmay be implemented in an analog or digital fashion or some combinationthereof.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that at least a portion of thedevices and/or processes described herein can be integrated into a dataprocessing system. Those having skill in the art will recognize that adata processing system generally includes one or more of a system unithousing, a video display device, memory such as volatile or non-volatilememory, processors such as microprocessors or digital signal processors,computational entities such as operating systems, drivers, graphicaluser interfaces, and applications programs, one or more interactiondevices (e.g., a touch pad, a touch screen, an antenna, etc.), and/orcontrol systems including feedback loops and control motors (e.g.,feedback for sensing position and/or velocity; control motors for movingand/or adjusting components and/or quantities). A data processing systemmay be implemented utilizing suitable commercially available components,such as those typically found in data computing/communication and/ornetwork computing/communication systems.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein describedcomponents (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and the discussionaccompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptualclarity and that various configuration modifications are contemplated.Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and theaccompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their moregeneral classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended tobe representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of specificcomponents (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should not be takenlimiting.

Although a user is described herein as a single figure, those skilled inthe art will appreciate that the user may be representative of a humanuser, a robotic user (e.g., computational entity), and/or substantiallyany combination thereof (e.g., a user may be assisted by one or morerobotic agents) unless context dictates otherwise. Those skilled in theart will appreciate that, in general, the same may be said of “sender”and/or other entity-oriented terms as such terms are used herein unlesscontext dictates otherwise.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations are not expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates differentcomponents contained within, or connected with, different othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures may beimplemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components soassociated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or“operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality,and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewedas being “operably couplable,” to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically mateable and/or physically interactingcomponents, and/or wirelessly interactable, and/or wirelesslyinteracting components, and/or logically interacting, and/or logicallyinteractable components.

In some instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as“configured to,” “configurable to,” “operable/operative to,”“adapted/adaptable,” “able to,” “conformable/conformed to,” etc. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize that such terms (e.g., “configuredto”) can generally encompass active-state components and/orinactive-state components and/or standby-state components, unlesscontext requires otherwise.

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described hereinhave been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modificationsmay be made without departing from the subject matter described hereinand its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are toencompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as arewithin the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein.It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to claims containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that typically a disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “Aor B” will be typically understood to include the possibilities of “A”or “B” or “A and B”.

With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art willappreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed inany order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in asequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may beperformed in other orders than those which are illustrated, or may beperformed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may includeoverlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental,preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variantorderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like“responsive to,” “related to,” or other past-tense adjectives aregenerally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictatesotherwise.

What is claimed:
 1. A farming system comprising: a field engagement unitcomprising: a support assembly comprising: a support frame; one or morework tool rail assemblies; and one or more support structures; one ormore propulsion units, wherein the one or more propulsion units areconfigured to provide omnidirectional control of the field engagementunit; one or more work tool assemblies, wherein the one or more worktool rail assemblies are positioned such that the one or more work toolassemblies are actuatable along the one or more work tool railassemblies so to provide one or more work tool attachments of the one ormore work tool assemblies selective access to one or more regionslocated beneath the support frame; and a controller, wherein thecontroller includes one or more processors configured to execute a setof program instructions stored in memory, wherein the programinstructions are configured to cause the one or more processors tocontrol a position of the one or more work tool assemblies along the oneor more work tool rail assemblies.
 2. The system in claim 1, wherein theprogram instructions are configured to cause the one or more processorsto autonomously control the one or more propulsion units of the fieldengagement unit to provide omnidirectional and autonomous positioningcontrol of the field engagement unit based on one or more measuredcharacteristics.
 3. The system in claim 1, further comprising: one ormore material storage containers.
 4. The system in claim 3, wherein theone or more material storage containers are disposed onboard of thesupport assembly.
 5. The system in claim 4, wherein the one or morematerial storage containers are coupled to at least one of the one ormore support structures, the support frame, or the one or more work toolassemblies.
 6. The system in claim 3, further comprising: one or moreassemblies configured to distribute one or more materials stored in theone or more material storage containers to one or more components of thefield engagement unit.
 7. The system in claim 1, wherein the supportframe comprises: a truss.
 8. The system in claim 1, wherein the supportassembly comprises an adjustable support assembly.
 9. The system inclaim 1, wherein the one or more support structures are actuatable toadjust the elevation of the support assembly.
 10. The system in claim 1,wherein the one or more propulsion units include one or more drivewheels.
 11. The system in claim 1, wherein the one or more propulsionunits include one or more tracks.
 12. The system in claim 1, wherein theone or more propulsion units are mechanically coupled to the supportassembly via one or more steering assemblies.
 13. The system in claim 1,wherein at least a first propulsion unit of the one or more propulsionunits is configured for actuation independently from at least a secondpropulsion unit of the one or more propulsion units.
 14. The system inclaim 1, wherein two propulsion units are configured for simultaneousactuation.
 15. The system in claim 1, wherein the one or more work toolattachments comprise: at least one of a plant phenotyping attachment, anagronomy imaging attachment, a weeding attachment, a nutrientapplication attachment, a fertilizer application attachment, acombination nutrient and fertilizer application attachment, a sprayingattachment, a soil coring attachment, a soil measurement attachment, acombination soil coring and soil measurement attachment, a plantingattachment, a detasseling attachment, an irrigation attachment, aharvesting attachment, or a biomass collection attachment.
 16. Thesystem in claim 1, further comprising: one or more power sources. 17.The system in claim 1, further comprising: a server, wherein the serveris communicatively coupled to the controller and is accessible by a usercontroller.
 18. The system in claim 17, wherein the program instructionsare configured to cause the one or more processors to: receive one ormore sets of information; analyze the one or more sets of information;select one or more responses based on the analyzed one or more sets ofinformation; and transmit the one or more responses to one or morecomponents of the field engagement unit.
 19. The system in claim 18,wherein the one or more sets of information are received from at leastone of one or more in-field sensors, one or more sensors on the one ormore components of the field engagement unit, the server, or the usercontroller.
 20. The system in claim 18, wherein the one or more sets ofinformation include one or more operational parameters for the one ormore components of the field engagement unit.
 21. The system in claim18, wherein the one or more responses include one or more operationalparameters for the controlled one or more components of the fieldengagement unit.
 22. The system in claim 1, wherein the field engagementunit is configured for self-transportation from a first field to asecond field.
 23. The system in claim 1, wherein the field engagementunit is configured for transportation via at least one of a flatbedtrailer, a drop deck trailer, an enclosed trailer, or a shippingcontainer.
 24. The system in claim 1, further comprising: a dockingstation, wherein the field engagement unit is reversibly couplable tothe docking station, wherein the docking station is configured toperform at least one of a transfer of one or more materials from thedocking station to the one or more material storage containers of thefield engagement unit or a charge of one or more energy storage deviceson-board the field engagement unit.
 25. A farming system comprising: afield engagement unit; a docking station, wherein the field engagementunit is reversibly couplable to the docking station, wherein the dockingstation is configured to perform at least one of a transfer of one ormore materials from the docking station to one or more material storagecontainers of the field engagement unit or a charge of one or moreenergy storage devices on-board the field engagement unit; and acontroller, wherein the controller includes one or more processorsconfigured to execute a set of program instructions stored in memory,wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the one or moreprocessors to cause the field engagement unit to travel to the dockingstation for docking with the docking station.
 26. A farming systemcomprising: a plurality of field engagement units, wherein the pluralityof field engagement units each comprise a local controller, wherein aparticular local controller includes one or more local processorsconfigured to execute a set of program instructions stored in localmemory, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the oneor more local processors to control one or more components of aparticular field engagement unit of the plurality of field engagementunits; and a central controller, wherein the central controller includesone or more processors configured to execute a set of programinstructions stored in memory, wherein the central controller iscommunicatively coupled to each of the local controllers of theplurality of field engagement units, wherein the program instructionsare configured to cause the one or more processors to coordinate one ormore actions of two or more of the plurality of field engagement units.27. A livestock processing system comprising: an engagement unitcomprising: a support assembly, wherein the support assembly includesone or more work tool rail assemblies, one or more support structures,and a support frame; one or more propulsion units; one or more work toolassemblies, wherein the one or more work tool rail assemblies arepositioned parallel to the support frame such that the one or more worktool assemblies are actuatable along the one or more work tool railassemblies so to provide one or more work tool attachments of the one ormore work tool assemblies selective access to one or more regions of alivestock enclosure located beneath the support frame; and a controller,wherein the controller includes one or more processors configured toexecute a set of program instructions stored in memory, wherein theprogram instructions are configured to cause the one or more processorsto control a position of the one or more work tool assemblies along theone or more work tool rail assemblies so to actuate the one or more worktool assemblies to a selected position within the livestock enclosure.